Ferrari’s choice for pull rod at the front was very optimistic and a bit weird I would say: they claim this would lower the CoG significantly and the aerodynamics would be improved because the airflow over the rods is improved (I still do not fully understand both arguments though). The major downside is that suspension changes would take forever. This was confirmed by Alonso, who missed most of a P1 session somewhere (csn’t remember where though, China/Bahrain?).
But you’re right: Ferrari has made enormous progress in-season, which you can mostly put down to the revised exhaust they introduced in Spain. The Ferrari car now is one of the best cars, both in the wet and in the dry.