MS631 - factory testing or reset due to diagnostics?

I am aware this could be a meter error from a diag reset I do not know how to repeat. That said if it is a diagnostic meter reset error it happened early enough to not be a red flag to sideline it at 21 pages. For $59, I can live with the meter error. I already took a massive risk on the unit, given the screen is $200+ and pairs to the printer (and can't be reused once installed). I took the risk on fixing this unit because I knew the MS631 can sometimes recovered with a firmware upgrade to fix the touchscreen issue when it occurs ahead of the purchase.

Yes, I applied the newer firmware so it will never have the problem.

I grabbed this MS631 because of a bad touchscreen, with a ~$200+ cost, I had to purchase a new screen if it persisted as it pairs to the machine. But for the price, the risk was worth it. It's the same as the MS621, but the price made the risk worth taking, given what the major parts are worth.

It turned out to be a bad connection to the touchscreen, and given that the MS631 is dependent on it, it nerfed it and made it "useless" until it was fixed. It came from a facility participating in Lexmark's SupplyPlus contract supply program, where the facility purchases the printer outright but gets a discount on supplies. That’s how I know it wasn't factory fresh when I got it.

However, things got funny when I checked the meter: it has a 0 page count, but a permanent count of 21. This is compounded by the toner having 21 cycles; it is also counting, so the page counter isn't disabled. The other mark I noticed was a telltale mark on the imaging drum foam seal (entry port on the drum) that leans towards use in the form of residual toner, which was also transferred to the flap. Here is an example of how it looks when the drum has been run even briefly (14.7k pages, MS621):

Now the MS631 with "0 pages":

This only occurs once you use the printer and complete a print cycle, but some toner probably gets there in shipping (but it shouldn't be much). Based on those little cues, I believe this was probably lightly used before I got to it. Someone else's troubleshooting led to a cleared meter, likely in the ballpark of 21 pages before I got it (now up to 28 due to my meter count test, the logic being 26 permanent logged, I added 2; so the permanent counter bumped to 28). SO to recap:

• Permanent counter: 21
• Page count (visible): 0
• Drum unit cycles: 21
• Toner cycles: 21
• After testing for meter functionality: 23 pages toner, 21 drum (I ran the device information pages not to burn toner, so it may not have triggered), 23 permanent, two pages printed on the visible counter

That said, I am also conflicted. I checked an NIB (opened, unused) CX431 color laser. I found 26 pages on the permanent counter with all the original unit packing materials, including the ITB protector (no foam or other factory material). It isn't shown as I didn't consider it in the initial photos, but the MS631 has a Lexmark SWP (ships with product) drum and toner. I don't know if one can transfer the drums between printers, but SWP toners are locked to the shipping machine.

Based on these clues and the meter oddity between the two, is this likely testing or a potential diagnostic reset before I even got to the unit? The drum could be genuine, given that I risked losing the drum's cycle count in my MS621 by doing a maintenance mode reset(1), and it stuck. However, I'm a little unsure.

(1) Put the pitchforks down. The foam seal where the toner entry port mates up with the drum is degraded due to compression and is partially crumpled. The drum I tried it on is already on borrowed time, as the failure will eventually cause a print defect. THIS IS MY UNIT. THE DRUM IS NEAR THE END OF LIFE. I have a spare.

Here is what I pulled from the printer's internal data that remains:

After putting 2 pages on it to make sure it is counting: