Did Omega change the finishing on the 8800's mainplate without telling anyone?

So I picked up a new green SMP from an AD a few weeks ago with the "random" A###### serial, and I just noticed the finishing of the movement is slightly different from the SMPs I've owned in the past. I distinctly remember it being a plain sandblasted finish that gave it either a "cost-cutting" or "Rolex-utilitarian" look (depending on which camp you side with). Now it has a perlage effect.

Am I remembering the finishing wrong or did Omega change it?

OLD:




MINE:



I also noticed my caseback was aligned perfectly as if it had the NAIAD lock and there was another SMP in blue with an A##### serial and its also had the caseback aligned perfectly. The rest of the SMP inventory were 88##### and caseback text were random. Probably pure luck, but would be interesting if they added NAIAD lock to the regular SMP production without telling anyone.



I do know they changed the case, crown, and the rotor bearings from ceramic to steel without telling anyone a few years back, so maybe they changed even more than we thought we knew?

The updates were mentioned in this thread: https://omegaforums.net/threads/changes-on-seamaster-300.169325/
Archer even posted new case & crown part numbers from the Extranet, but the OP's watch didn't have the perlage finishing under the escapement. I've also heard allegations that Omega updated the AR coating on the crystal to be more scratch-resistant, but that's unconfirmed and should be treated as a rumor only for now.