: Ok, I get that the in game models may be (drastically??) different from each
: other, but fictionally they're the same ship, built in the same year,
: received the same kick ass ONI upgrades, and made the same
: "blind" jump to the same system with the same Halo 04. Right?

Depends on how far you extend 'fictionally'. Not as far as I, I'll bet. When the number of engines on the back of the ship changes, that's unexplainable, fictionally. The number of externally visible lifepod hatches. The conspicuous presence of point defense turrets in the newer. The changed typeface of the ship's main hull name. The increase in length, width, and height in the newer. The different number of decks between the two styles. The view out the bridge window is vastly different. I could go on.

The point is, except for a general shape similarity, the CE Autumn and the Reach Autumn are very different ships.

If I missed your point, I apologize.