I've been dealing with VP for a few years. Never had any issues. As far as expediting, it seems like they get theirs and ship about midway through all of Sideshow's orders being filled. And with a measly $3 difference between Parcel and USPS Priority, I always figure the money I'm saving will compensate so I get mine that much sooner by picking Priority. Additionally, like SS, they also have Viking Bucks (or whatever they're called), so when ordering the already discounted retail figure, you can apply those for an even bigger discount.
As for the cancellation deal, I'd give them a call and ask when it's expected to ship. I've used a few other sources in the past for non-Sideshow items and it's really a mixed bag. Some hella lag while others prefer to process immediately. If you can get it faster for a bit more from someone else, that's the way to go. But be careful of restocking fees. You might think you're only paying $3 more to cancel and buy it from someone else only to be hit with a 15% cancellation fee.
It's amazing how ordering out of state only a few times, equates to the price of another figure. This is probably the route I'll be taking from now on for all the non-exclusive orders. A shame really. Their legendary customer service and $1.50 in rewards points just don't seem as appealing for regular orders anymore. 
