Inner cables - yay or nay?

1st of all, hello to forum members with my 1st post.

I'm in process of accumulating the funds for my first gravel bike. Should be done in the next couple of days. Decided on the Kona Rove AL since it is in my budget, it is in general a good gravel bike according to numerous reviews, and i am still not 100% sure that this type of bike or riding will fit me.

But, apart from that, my dilemma is Rove AL 2016 or 2017? As far as i could investigate, the only differences between the two are that the new one has other tyres (Schwalbe Delta Cruiser instead of Schwalbe Road Plus) and the 2017 has inner cable routing.

Price-wise, i get 2016 for $640 and 2017 for $670. Are the changes in configuration worth the $30? is Inner cable routing better or worse from Gravel Grinding perspective? Not that I am a cheapskate, but i could use those $30 for bottle cages or something. And i kinda prefer the Blue 2016 color instead of Black/White 2017 one (since unfortunately the Orange 2016 is not available anymore).

Thanks for your answers.

First, I'm not able to give you any choice recommendations between the 2 models -- but I doubt that you'll notice much difference on the road. That being said, as a home mechanic, I always prefer external cables, since they are usually much easier to service and maintain. Unless you race or often ride in wet and muddy conditions, I doubt that you will get much benefit from inner cable runs, which, in many cases can make cable maintenance a nightmare. 

My main concern regarding the external cabling was exactly that; mud and water. But i guess i can eventually change the ones provided with fully enclosed cables.

I am not really a mechanic in any way, but fiddling with everything i can is my MO (braking stuff also sometimes, but I wouldn't be myself if i at least didn't try before giving it to someone else).

Thnaks for your reply.

The brakes on the 2017 have full housing, like the 2016, but gunk can still get into the housing by traveling along the cables and drifting through the ferrules.  On this bike I think that you will gain nothing having cables going through the frame over having them in full housing like the brakes.  The rear derailleur cable is exposed on the chain stay and that is probably the same cable under the down tube.  The front derailleur cable by the mech is fully exposed by the rear tire which will shovel crud all over it.  Inner cables:  No bennefit on the 2017 Rove AL.....nay is my view.  What you might find to be an issue with the 2016 is the bad placement of the cable stops/barrel adjusters so close up to the head tube.  It can make for difficult barrel adjustments and housing needs to be routed well so as to not get the front brake line stuck under the shifter line (so put it over) when you turn the bars hard.  Rather poor design on Kona's part.  I have a 2014 steel Rove.  

I'm not a big fan of internally routed cables, and for most riding conditions don't even see a need for full cable housing, either.  

BUT, unless you're going to keep that bike until it falls apart, it's worth thinking about future resale.  You'll lose far more than $30 in resale on a '16 bike vs a '17 bike, if you were to sell within a few years.  

OK, resale value disregarded since i plan on using this bike for a long time. So, went with the 2016 model. Great bike