Ok, I just confirmed from Axiom that the m22's I just received are in fact the new finish. Which contradicts a lot in this thread, even JC's description of the finish. I'm guessing the orginal poster had the new finish all along and assumed he had the old finish when he placed an order for replacement Q's. They sent what was requested, which was wrong...but not Axiom's fault.
Anyway, the pictures that have more grain and shades of black/gray as JC described are in fact the new finish.