I'm guessing ditching the non-PP allows for a base price rise... and also eliminates the 6 speed DSG box?
Or maybe its because things like the Hyundai, Megane, Focus etc have more firepower than a standard GTI and they think they are losing sales?
BTW ditching "Ruby Black" (I actually thought it was called Black Rubin... but its thats nasty purple)... whatever horrific colour will they replace it with to get you to spend £££ swapping it now? Nappy brown? Burnt Orange? Beige? Faded yellow? Pink?