Not sure about Stern coming in later with the LE premium price to follow JJPs higher quality price. The Stern model must have been there earlier than JJPs.
I remember playing my NIB BIBLE more than 12 months before guys were still asking “when is WOZ coming to OZ”.
Stern introduced Premium Limited Editions after JJP started up. I know that well, as JJP started up just as I got into pinball (I thought it died in the 70s, and I squandered the 90s pinball scene by being focused on work!).
I remember this. Stern called it the super LE.