First, you are going to get many different answers to those questions because a lot is due to personal preference...
Chrome moly vs. chrome lined - for your first, I would highly recommend hard chrome lined. Simple, durable, don't have to think for even a microsecond about it. Nothing at all wrong with moly barrels, but I would not go there for this rifle.
Mid-length vs. carbine handguards - The significance is not the length, its the position of the gas block and length of the gas tube. Make sure you check, there are setups that place mid-length handguards over carbine length gas systems. If you are after the benefits of the longer gas tube, you'd be pissed if you got that instead. In any event, mid-length has its advantages, and I own a couple (both AR15 & AR10). Ultimately though, this totally personal preference. If you want, you can compare the two next time we shoot.
Front sight tower vs. rail block - Hmm... There is a lot to be said for the traditional tower up front. However, I have found that I do very much prefer the 'clean' field of view on my rifles with non-magnified optics. (i.e., Aimpoints) I would ask you this - What do you plan as your primary/everyday sighting mechanism? Irons? Aimpoint or the like? Magnified scope? If you plan to primarily only use iron sights on the rifle, without a doubt you should go with the front sight tower. If you are going with a scope of some type, I would think hard about the rail block. Adding the flip front and rear back-up sights is no big deal. Again, I have all of these combinations of setups and you can check them out when next we shoot! (10/9?)
Also, are you looking at RRA for a specific reason? Complete (chrome lined) Armalite uppers can be had for less than you will pay for the (non-lined) RRA...