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"It isn't clear to me whether the ruling is that the 4,800 ballots in question actually are valid and will be counted..."

Where do we go to get an update from someone for whom it IS clear?

From the following if correct gives Coleman the opportunity to expand the number of ballots to be counted.

Senate recount trial judges put 4,800 more ballots in play
In a ruling that keeps alive Republican Norm Coleman's chances of overturning Minnesota's U.S. Senate recount, a three-judge panel on Tuesday allowed him to bring evidence to trial that as many as 4,800 absentee ballots were wrongly rejected and should now be counted.
The decision expands the evidence that can be considered in the recount trial, giving Coleman the opportunity to put more ballots into play in his effort to erase a 225-vote lead for DFLer Al Franken. The Franken campaign had tried to limit Coleman to bringing evidence on only 650 absentee ballots that he cited specifically when he filed his lawsuit challenging the recount results.
In the ruling, the judges said they will focus on rejected absentee ballots cast by voters who complied with the requirements of Minnesota election law or failed to comply because of mistakes by local elections officials.
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My understanding is that each of the ballots will be considered if Coleman produces evidence that the ballot was improperly excluded from being counted. Once the evidence is presented then the court will decide whether the ballot should be counted or not.

Most of the ballots were excluded because election officials decided that they didn’t meet the requirements to be counted. Some may have been improperly excluded, but it is unclear how many.

I know Coleman has to do this, and I admire that he is willing to go through this process. However, this was a foregone conclusion once the recount began. Dems will do whatever it takes to make sure the Franken(stein) will win. It is tough to win an election when your opponent will cheat, lie and even steal ballots to get elected.