With help from Ryan at Scaled Instruments, I decided to go ahead and order the Aerocone. Since the rain gauge heater assembly is parallel to and adjacent to the tipping buckets, there is clearance for it to fit. I have fabricated by own copy of the heater (search WxForum for "YARCH") copying the PCB, power resistor, terminal block and thermal disc.
This will be a "summer only" installation. I have disconnected the heater power to insure that it will not run with the Aerocone installed. I plan on returning the other cone (later ribbed cone with provision for bird spikes) in the fall.
The Aerocone seems to be a tighter fit and I had to fiddle with the base a bit to get it aligned and seated correctly. The new debris filter does indeed latch very securely.
I didn't take a photo, since it doesn't look any different than the others already posted online. I basically wanted to pass along that the Aerocone does fit over the heater OK. Just don't run the heater with it. Not sure if it would hurt anything, but the distance to the cone plastic is probably less and could cause local distortion/melting. Also, obviously, the heater would not be effective with the new cone design anyways.
Greg H.