If they changed the spec' of the Titan, they must have changed it the other way. The current model seems to have bladed spokes. I don't know how wide. I'll check it with a caliper at Performance next time I go there.

Generic bike components tend to come down in the price if they stay on the market long enough. Factory has to come up with the cost of R&D when ship it for the first time. If the model is popular enough to stay long, they can afford to cut the price and still make a profit. But that doesn't mean they don't change the spec' for price cutting purpose, specailly if they have a competition in the same price range. In most cases, they do opposite, change the spec' for better to keep the popularity going. You can see good example in the generic clipless pedals.