Sam's has this model on sale for $329, worth it or are the newer version with the shorter wider jars better? So many models to choose from it is hard to decide?

Only functional reason to get a shorter jar version is to fit it under the cabinet, if that applies to you. And the shorter-jar versions mostly have the presets that are nice (the 7500 is a shorter jar but doesn't have presets). Otherwise, it's the same blender with a taller, more narrow jar.

If you can deal without the presets, it'll still be an amazing blender