I don’t like “For physical media, don’t create a new release when the only difference is the matrix number on the center of a CD or the run-out groove area of a record.”
I have multiple pressings of some albums and appreciate representing them differently in my collection. I’d be upset if they were merged. I even scanned the artwork twice, even though they are the same. Example:
I don’t have an issue with multiple matrix codes generally. If someone wants to ignore it, fine, but let the folks who do want to separate the details do so. An extension of this is grouping similar matrix codes, which I touched on in the thread below. It’s a good thread for those interested.