The rapper is not the same thing as manufacturing. Also, it's not a remix; it's a brand new sensor not used in the earlier Viper.
The retail mouse isn't necessarily a Viper design, it hasn't even been unveiled yet! Probably unveiled soon, given Virtual Online CES 2021 is around the corner. Razer already told media that the Viper chassis is currently for testing purposes, which is a clear unmistakeable signal of common prototype manufacturing. (If you still want to use that metaphor, imagine a remix disc that is half full of the best, most amazing, most revolutionary tracks from the singer's future unreleased album, but released first in a remix before the full complete original album.)
GPU Prototype Example... Also, I've seen the GPU vendors test their next-generation GPUs in boring designs and older reference designs in hidden prototype tests with private testers -- before, before making a big splash/announcement that it's actually a new GPU. Same for some CPUs as well as other techologies that are stealthily tested in embargo before announced.
Console Prototype Example... Did you know both Microsoft and Sony shipped their beta PlayStations and XBoxes in weird-looking generic boxes? Razer is doing no different. PHOTO PROOF <--- CLICK. Even more generic/ugly than reusing an existing (great) model! Besides, the original Viper introduced great optical mouse buttons, which is preserved in the new-sensor 8KHz version. That's a compliment beyond those ugly beta developer consoles. They also preannounced the developer kits before they had final designs too.
Automobile Car Example... And did you see that automakers often do something similar, testing new engine changes in an existing chassis (unless they want to use zebra camo, EXAMPLE1, EXAMPLE2 ... they actually wrap some prorotype cars in crazy camo, or sometimes recycle last year's body panels, to hide the fact they're new models, design changes, or breakthroughs), before putting it in the new year model car? Did you know they put fake tailpipes and engine noises in some prototype electric vehicles? (Ford did that fake tailpipe thing for their secret electric F150 prototypes before they announced it). Do you read/subscribe to automobile magazines whose reporters spies on those boring boilerplate cars hiding breakthrough new engines? They've been doing that for a century, and still do as of 2020, whether be Honda, Tesla, etc. They may preannounce say, an engine or battery breakthrough long before they unveil the design, as an example.
(There's thousands of examples of breakthroughs-hidden-in-generics in manufacturing. I can go on on non-computer-industry related stuff, too)
(Other mouse vendors do it too.)
The Viper form factor is a tried-and-true design, so you can compare 1KHz Viper and 8KHz Viper, and still tell the difference.
I have both mice here (1Khz and 8KHz) for versus testing of poll rate, and it's part of my upcoming (delayed) article. One exacerbating factor was motherboard failure last month, which delayed things to after the Holidays (apologies).
Lest I be blamed by readers as Razer-specific -- they just were merely generous to be the first to send the 8KHz and they're naturally getting the first-come-first-test -- which I am gladly doing -- sure, there is cred/karma win that goes with that. Certainly a legitimate reward for having sent the mouse. But fundamentally, I welcome all mouse vendors to send/do their innovative stuff (8KHz mouse, HD Mouse API compliant mouse, or whatever mouse innovations helping the refresh rate race). The combo of 8KHz poll + optical buttons is a killer combo, regardless of what chassis it is in.
Your rapper-equivalence metaphor is just manufacturing a classic manufacturing-standard diss out of thin air. Not even computer related at all!
If you want to criticize the World Standard Of All Manufacturing, suuuure a potentially legitimate criticism of general manufacturing keeping some things under wraps. But singling out mouse with an unannounced design? Really?
When criticizing a retail design, let's wait till they announce the real retail thing. Then it's open season for mouse equivalent of
oversized console memes. But there is no publicly announced retail design yet!
