The stepped sideplate is not that big of an issue to me. As the vast majority of Lefevers do not have it, I for one would not miss it. Not that I would cry if it was present, but the rest of the gun is what I care about. I even picked out the blank for it tonight. A English crotch blank that has been aging for six years. By the time it get whittled down it should be aged just right. In fact this gun might get built before either of my RBL will be built.