The coating seems the same on my desert as it is on my standard. It's just a different color. The liners I don't know about. I can tell you that the scales on the desert or canvas and the standard scales are linen. My guess would be that the canvas micarta scales look better without liners and didn't need them for anything and thats why they aren't there. Also, in my personal opinion, the canvas micarta scales have much more roughness and grip to them. I like them more. My desert is on my side EVERY single day. i think the wife is going to talk me out of the standard that she bought for me at the Blade Show. She's been playing with it a lot lately.