My guess is that the "LX" issue is just a typo. I cannot imagine that they would go back two steps instead of just one. I do agree that it is a brilliant marketing move to keep a second tier (price only) premium bin in their lineup.
To beat a dead horse (a proverbial one, no animals were harmed during the making of this post
, going back to the LX wouldn't be two steps backward, IMO, at least not optically.
I've owned both LXs and LX Ls, and I still have my LX, because the optics are clearly better.
But Nikon hasn't resurrected the Led Zeppelin LX line. They are using "Premier" now for the LX L like they used "Criterion" to describe their top of the line porros of yesteryear (the "Glory Days").
I haven't tried an EDG yet, but hope to this spring when my friend Steve and I voyage out to the Amish Shoe Store.
From Henry Link's description of the 7x42 EDG he tried, the EPs seem to be identical or very similar to the LX/LX Ls.
I expect a lot of "rolling ball" on the full sized models, but hopefully, a lot less in the mid-sized models like my 8x32 LX.
However, with the hefty price tag on the EDG (which I have nicknamed the "HEDGE" since the price is best suited for hedge fund managers
, I'm hoping they will also have a Monarch X to compare.
I wouldn't expect the ergonomics to be as good, because of the centerpost, which seems to defeat the purpose of the open-bridge design, but they are priced better for my non-recession-proof wallet.
I will take my 8x32 SE, 8x32 EII, and 8x32 LX with me to compare with the new arrivals, and hope that my old line up compares so well that I will only walk away with a new pair of boots (and a sho-fly pie
Brock