Hi, is the -q switch still used by LAME if using the new --vbr-new routines?

At least here is what the Lame's web page says:
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options guide:
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Quality related:

-m m/s/j/f/a mode selection
-q n Internal algorithm quality setting 0..9.
0 = slowest algorithms, but potentially highest quality
9 = faster algorithms, very poor quality
-h same as -q2
-f same as -q7

i don't think the q switch does anything in the new versions

Yes. You can use -q0 and -q5. ( -q1...-q4 is the same as -q0 and -q6...-q9 is the same as -q5)