(there isn't a string forum, so i thought i'd ask here)
www.fiddleforum.com
is an "alternative" (as in electric strings forum)
I guess the first thing for the 'cellist to ask herself is
"Do I want an electric 'cello or an amplified acoustic 'cello?"
is similar to the idea of an electric guitar or an amplified acoustic guitar.
the yamahas feel quite a bit like an electric instrument..I mean in their response, the fingerboard radius and the like are pretty typical. That's not a bad thing, provided that's what you are looking for.
She may be able to rent one -- there used to be a company strings to go, that rented instruments like this for the traveler, don't know if they are still around. It might be "strings2go"