I just got one myself. I was a bit disappointed to discover that ZTE crippled the bootloader, making it absolutely impossible to get twrp working unless it is signed. You can get root if you go to the need testers thread before using Kingo. I haven't personally rooted or attempted to root mine as this unlocked carrier phone came with absolutely no bloateare out of box. As you said the unlocked version is a fantastic phone, in fact it's the first phone I've owned that I could comfortably say doesn't need to be rooted.