@ebes thanks for the question, although we're sorry to hear you're disappointed with the new design. Unfortunately, we aren't privy to Merrell's design changes and therefore don't know if this is a permanent or temporary change. We'd encourage you connect with Merrell directly at (800) 288-3124 or through email/chat. This would give you an opportunity to provide your feedback about the changes and perhaps learn about future plans - hope this helps!
Aha...YES...thank you...of course, the question is for Merrell...