...they admitted that the only real difference between the sterlingworth and the high grades was lipstick.....
I think you're mis-stating the reality of it. The Sterlingworth internals were kept to the same high quality as the graded guns. With A H Fox guns, the graded guns were offered years before the Sterlingworth was. Point is, the graded guns weren't of a lower quality internally, the Sterlingworth was just above average in internal quality, for guns of a competitive nature in other makes. Big difference.
I'm mostly a "Fox man" myself, but I can appreciate and enjoy Parkers. My latest acquisition is a DHE Parker 16/20 that may well become my go to dove gun, for later season birds.
