I don't think the clarity had to do with when the caboose cam was released. I have bought a number of them and found that one window might be a little compromised and in the same road number, another window is reasonably clear. I bought two PRR and two CSX and knocked the windows out of one each of them. Those were sort of ok but are better without windows. The other ones are clearer with windows and I left them alone...trying to sell them on the forum to make room for more new stuff .
I would like to somehow put one of these cams in some engine that looks forward without a roof showing in the picture (why I bought extras), but haven't figured out the best way to do that.