Side-by-side comparison between my two MkIIa units yields no difference IMO in feel- rotationally. Push-button-wise, the new encoder is slightly easier to depress (not a bad thing).
The knob sits about 1mm further out of the fascia on the new encoder, though this is also not a bad thing (no gap at the rear and the knob is easier to lay a finger on).

/chiming in
//kudos to Stu! Great work!