Hi Victarion,
regarding black parts; I mean for some it does make sense to rework them instead of buying new parts. Anodizing aluminium isn’t that expensive (as far I can tell due to years-long experience with a local company) → Black anodized Strida parts
Sure, there is some disassembling work to do (which can be a little tricky, for example reassembling of the brass rods of the steering bars) but with a few hints no big problem I guess.
Yes there was a tilted saddle in France, too.
Unfortunately we didn’t find the cause if I remember correctly - my suspect is still a faulty saddle with rails which were bent the wrong way.
(That is, for my personal meaning, easy to explain: Ming cycle’s quality control department doesn’t work always the way it should.)
Overall; really great that you like her 