I picked up an NIB SJP today.

[cbpeck]

Nice SJP. Any idea why Weber did away with this style for the newer Jumbo Joe style that has a more shallow bowl?

Not sure, maybe because they already make that shallow bowl for a Euro version? I don't care for the new JJ design for a plethora of reasons, but I will confess that I find the space between the charcoal and food grates in the older SJP to be a tad too deep. The newer JJ may be better in that regard, even if worse in several others (cough, cough - bolt on handle & grates - cough, cough).