I see ... the tube IS shorter ... as your picture shows. Looks to be closer to 2" whereas the original is 2.21", if I recall correctly.
And dropping the drill size from 27/64" (0.422") to 13/32" (0.406") is a step in the right direction, but not a big enough step ... only 16 thou.
One of the shortcomings of the original design is the thinness of the finished blank where it meets the hardware. . The drill size change would increase the blank wall thickness, but by only 8 thou, and that is not going to make much of a difference. . I don't see any reason for them not dropping the drill size to 3/8" or even smaller, thereby giving more meat on the blank to accommodate easier casting of objects like watch parts.
I hope they did not also decrease the hardware diameter (where it meets the blank).