If there is a difference then it is so slight that no one is going to notice it as you suggest.. I'm not sure wtf that green LV is that you used as an example as it doesn't look much much like mine specifically I'm looking at the angle of the cut of those stumpy lugs where they finish (may just be lens fisheye effect and angle but not sure), my VSF is more horizontal than that (
is that even a VSF?),. I can't get my watch to look like the one you pictured but I'll try a head on shot below, however I can make it look much like the 2 gens below it (to my eyes at least).
Sorry for the low light graininess..
Not disputing that you are not onto something, but if you are using that pic as an your control then I'd like to see a VSF vs gen comparison to be sure, until then I consider this theory as yet to be confirmed?