In between bouts of the server problems I was able to test a bunch of these missions. My first impression of the burner missions is that, first, they can actually be easy (in a sense), and second, no, they are not at all like frigate PVP .
Players aren't going to learn much about PVP fitting from them (regardless of whether that's a goal for missions). Efficient fittings for these missions are what I would call GÇ£cheeseGÇ¥ fittings, most of them useless in any other context, but it didn't take long for counters to become apparent.

For example, ECM fittings on high DPS ships like the Worm work decently on all but the Guristas mission, as noted above.

For the Guristas burner, it was surprisingly easy with this lame fit I quickly threw together:

[Worm]

Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II

X5 Prototype Engine Enervator
Medium Ancillary Shield Booster
Limited 1MN Microwarpdrive I
Empty Mid Slot

Prototype 'Arbalest' Light Missile Launcher
Prototype 'Arbalest' Light Missile Launcher
Prototype 'Arbalest' Light Missile Launcher

Small Anti-Kinetic Screen Reinforcer II
Small Anti-Kinetic Screen Reinforcer II

3x 'Augmented' Acolyte
2x 'Augmented' Hornet

The augmented drones did not seem necessary and rockets would have been better than the light missiles. Start the fight by overheating the MWD, apply web, use MASB as needed, and it is over pretty quickly. That's just one way of doing it, and there are likely more efficient ways.

It does seem like the only frigates that will be able to complete any of these missions (solo) will be those that can do very high amounts of DPS. A T1 frigate might be able to do some of them with enough DPSGÇömaybe a max DPS atron or merlin with lucky ECM cycles. In fact, all of these missions seem highly biased toward the Worm.

Some players (above) have already said these missions are too hard. At some point they will be easy, as once you figure out a "cheese" for them, they are just as predictable as the Damsel in Distress--you can even leave slots unfilled in some cases. That predictability etc. is not necessarily a bad thing, as they are still fun. But yes, these missions are different from the usual security grind, but only insofar as they require frigates in quirky fittings, not because they somehow approximate PVP...