I've Cerakoted a regular PSA lower, and blemishes that are not readily apparent become very visible after the Cerakote coating is applied. This one should be great looking from the get-go.
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A lower is pretty much a lower save for a lowered shelf for a RDIAS and billet lowers Who gives a shit. No difference in function between a bushmaster, Colt, FN, Noveske, BCM, Barrett, PSA, DD, and Rock River. I have shot all of these and they were all the same. Other than the Magwell on the barretts were tight and mags wouldn't drop free. The LPK on the other hand...
I think you are missing the mark! The OP is simply informing and substantiating (with pictures) the fact that Palmetto State Armory indeed offers two different lowers. They offer the "LW" prefix and the "SC" prefix lowers. The "SC" prefix has a better finish. To those that are brand loyal this may be important. It has also been pretty much determined that FN may be the supplier of the "SC" lowers.
Over the years, there have been numerous problems with various lowers. Olympic Arms, for example, cast their lowers for quite a long time and they were literally falling apart. Other companies, like High Standard, were manufacturing their lowers out of spec, and numerous LPKs would not work in them and they had tight magwells. RRA lowers were so tight once that you had to use a hammer to get the takedown pins out, and some uppers wouldn't fit at all.
So, no, a lower is not "pretty much a lower." QC and desired specs from the vendor play a big role.
PSA has used a couple different lowers. Anderson, Aero, LW and FN. The pics of the FN ones do look like they have a better finish on them.
SC=FN Manufacturing
AP=Aero Precision
LW=LW Schneider
When I bought mine in the Greenville store, the sales guy specifically said that the "SC" lowers are made by FN in their Columbia facility.
Maybe the guy meant to say as long as the lowers were manufactured by reputable manufactures.
There isn't going to be much of a difference between a lower coming from FN or Aero Precision other than how much black dye they use in there Anodizing.