Hi Russ,
Yes... it must be just you not noticing. There have been several video posts by music engineers, producers etc. that have spoken of the SQ with MQA. Take the recent Chesky info as an example.
I know you have chosen a different path now with the sale of your 8kSE and 818v3 but it is shame you never really gave MQA a spin. The 2L Norwegian titles (mentioned above) don't really do anything for me as I don't recognise nor particularly like the music. IIRC it was the same for you too.
I have tried 1000+ MQA albums here and think that the SQ is excellent in the vast majority if f cases.
Seems to me that the Aurelic delevelopments might have somehow triggered another subtle wave of anti-MQAness.