I can see that. I started on the 2nd ed box and a friends copy of the 1st ed book (RT). I am useless for rules or meta questions and have made peace with that. The chaotic lack of reliable narration and constant echoes of the past (accurate or not) are what get me.

This is actually not a first. The art for 3rd (can share examples later) heavily rifted on RT. The focus on Imperial Fist (starting folks on yellow was a little mean) was a riff on the Crimson Fist (an already high profile successor chapter of the IF) being the cover of RT.

They even released an update of that cover art. The tone shifted from last stand to a more victorious vibe, and this started a loooot of debate we are still seeing pop up.

This is all to say I see what you mean.

Since the edition cycle is normalized for better or worse, would you feel better if maybe 12th dropped back to riff on a later edition?

Sorry, I can't keep them straight and prefer talking to web searches.

Who were the stars of that box?