There is an update about this on the Xp medical page, I post the link below. It seems they are wanting to switch to a different outer shell (cloth like) to suit a 'larger market" what ever that is but have reconsidered changing the M-4 &L-4 (X-plus) and retain the plastic outer shell.....for now. They aren't sure and will have more info around mid 2012. Personally, like many, I lke the plastic outer shell, I just wish they would do away with all th e blue ink graphics on the silly thing and leave them mostly white, but thats just me. I have tried the cloth like ones and wasn't impressed. The big thing for me was the use of sticky adhesive tapes on a cloth ike outer surface, where a hook and loop type fastening system would have worked a LOT better. I have worn this type of item before and they work a LOT better then tapes. The tapes load up with 'fuzz' from the outer surface and soon become worthless. Anyways, the nice this is the people at Abena do seem to listen and are taking things into consideration with regards to changes to the Abena line, and the M-4 and L-4 in particular.
http://www.xpmedical.com/plasticbacked.html