Please see the most recent updates in the "Where did the .com name go?" thread. Posts number 16 and 17.
Initially it was a way to get rid of the (to me) unsightly blue canopy glass on port-over models, and to get a more realistic metallic appearance for natural metal skins. To be honest, the latter is a disappointment for me.
Nice, SWS?
That's just my guess.
. Im totaly now (as you know