You're probably right on that point. Shimbori likely doesn't feel the same connection to the characters as Itagaki did, but I recall a mention specifically of battle damage in the past as a complete no-go for those reasons. I'm just unsure of the circumstances and who said it now.

I considered mentioning "core values" but that's just a separate hypocrisy unrelated to any actual effect on the franchise design (so far) since it was over DOA6. You're indeed right in calling the "scene" trash, though. I agree completely.