What I am wondering about your Walking a Dead LE, is what the issue really is.
Until a few photos, I can only guess. Are the divets/dimples occurring cause the wood is too soft, regardless of clearcoat thickness, or is it just a normal microscopic wear n tear dimples from normal play that dissapears after cleaning or polishing ? Hard to understand the issue cause I have not heard or seen it before on a new Stern where new divets/dimples are appearing.
Its not an isolated incident mate, my post a few pages back showed it on a Spiderman with low plays, and my ACDC also has it with low plays. Others have also mentioned it on their own games. Jady may be onto something with the layers of ply theory....
I too like Nino, am not a Stern basher - in fact right now in my working collection (not including projects) i have more new Sterns than Bally/Williams, and i am absolutely loving playing them.
To further support Nino's comments about after market clear coating, i had a look at a Monster Bash that was clear coated and has been played a lot over the last 4 years - absolutely no sign of any wear, yellowing or dimpling, still looks amazing.