I wonder why would this even matter if it's not going to be seen up close anyway? This doesn't seem like a valid enough reason considering the prop department had no reservations wrapping things in tape or foam, hotswapping greeblies where they don't belong, and cobbling things out of completely different elements all together just to make some passing facsimile. Why would this little bit of plastic in exposed port holes get more attention than others? I don't believe the answer has anything to do with continuity. Again, this is one of those things that makes no sense logically of the OT props.
The real question is why they even bothered keeping the socket components at all. It could have just been a solid bar of steel in the uppers as almost all stunts have their sockets covered up with a cap of metal anyway. No one would have known any different. The only reasonable answer I can come up with is expediency on getting these things fencing ready. Take out only what you need to, reinforce what's left and quickly, and deliver it to set. Maybe the concern was to leave some of the upper as close to untouched as possible since the hands don't cover them when being held.
