Isn't the brake cable supposed to run freely within the noodle liner (the plastic tubing within the aluminum noodle)?

I needed to replace the noodles as the liner was worn out in the middle.

I went to a LBS and asked for 2 brake noodles. After a bit of rummaging I was given 2 mismatched noodles. The liner in one looked OK but the other one had a liner that looked too narrow. I pointed it out and the LBS guys said that it will work on any bike and come back if it does not. They would not give me another one.

Now, I find it that the cable is snug with the liner and not even going thru the liner without piercing the liner along the way with a strand of the cable. I am not using a pristine new cable.