Jesus, here we go again.
Anyway.....
So very many blocks utilize this technology today. Toyota have employed something similar in most of their engines since the debut of the 2ZZ in 1999. Of course it can be sleeved.
Very much like the closed deck design. Not a fan of the rear timing chain. Pistons look interesting. Love the oil squirters. Not a fan of all the plastic bits. Would happily sacrifice a few extra pounds for longivety (I know that's the direction almost all manufacturers are going in these days...
At the time of it's introduction I'd contend that it was pretty great. Unmodified now in the context of the automotive landscape we live in? Not so much.
It's this way for so many modern cars. Packaging is insane and it often feels like designers have no regard for the people who have to work on cars after the fact.