All I'm saying; If it were me looking at this car for purchase, I would certainly want it investigated more than we've done here. But that's just me. I am not attempting to sway the author one way or another, simply stating an opinion.
My point as stated, and just my opinion; the pad "
could have" been altered. I also think it is difficult for anyone to reach a consensus one way or another without a better pic or an on-site inspection. But, even at that poor resolution (to me) the pad appears to be altered, whether by the factory or by an individual. There are marks that clearly go against the grain.
And to the point of my last post...I don't think your oxymoron comment is correct. The above pic shows a factory re-decked pad. It was clearly done to replace an old number. Isn't it a pad that has been re-decked by the factory