I've now heard several comments that it's risky to use the 8E to lap, which I find pretty frustrating because the only reason I bought it was that I was instructed by several people in chat that I should buy it for that specific reason.

I'll have to post some pics tonight- there's some color variation on the DMT now- grey in the middle, a few patches of silver on the outside edges- even a couple of rusty spots from leaving it in water too long.
*sigh*