I think the main reason is to reduce the weight of the bridge and the overall weight of the latest Special Stingrays. The machine heads are also a reduced size lightweight design. As long as the bridge plate is well secured to the body there shouldn't be any noticeable difference in sustain. The classic pre EB bridge looks great but probably weighs twice what is necessary.
I do agree Tom, but without the original packaging, I'd be concerned about sending this out into courier world. I also much prefer potential buyers to confirm they are happy with the item in person before they purchase. However, if a buyer would be prepared to arrange collection by their preferred courier I could source appropriate packaging.
I guess there's always a possibility that a deposit is taken to remove an item from sale, the potential purchaser delays for whatever reason, then asks for the deposit back. The retailer has then lost days or maybe weeks when they could've made a sale.
If I really really like a bass, especially if it's a relatively expensive (£2k+) vintage one that I'm unlikely to find again, I definitely wouldn't lose it for the sake of £100. Sometimes however, I think we might subconsciously put obstacles in the way when we're not 100% sure we really want an instrument.
I very much doubt that you, or anyone else, will ever use that strap button, so a pickguard screw will do the job just fine IMO. A small plug of cocktail or match stick in the hole should help if it seems a little loose
The Openhagen is beautiful, but I think a large part of the high price is due to the fold flat capability that isn't really a requirement if it stays permanently in a living room. It makes postage and transportation to other locations cheaper/easier, but I think a beautiful non collapsible design could be a lot simpler and therefore cheaper. A non collapsible design could still be shipped as a flat pack to be assembled in situ.
This photo courtesy of Andy Baxter website:-
I believe the neck plates were made using an automatically indexing punch, so not individual punches by hand.
Headstock from my L serial number 1964 J. Looks like decal is under the varnish to me. Although looking closer at the photo (bass is a bit harder to look at ATM) there is a chip off the decal, so maybe it's on top of varnish?