The range issue is about irrelevant since its a ski-jump carrier, so the aircraft will at best be used for air defense or short-range strike. The F-18 could at least be launched at full load thanks to CATOBAR.
The Russians are buying the 29K to leverage the upgrades offered as a result of India buying 45 of the same jets. They didn’t want to pay for an upgraded SU-33.
The Indians’ next carrier is to be electromagnetic CATOBAR equipped. Electromag greatly simplifies catapault launchers; expect the next generation Russian carriers to have electromag catapaults and for the Chinese to fit them to their upcoming Type 002 carrier.
Time to worry is when Putin launches three or four Carriers—or at least lays the keel on several.