Why do people keep repeating this mis-information? Are they Shimano employees?
Sturmey introduced the improved AW-NIG twenty-five years ago. NIG is an acronym for "no in-between gear"; there is no neutrals between the in-gear positions. The -NIG versions of the hub are the only ones ever produced by SunRace Sturmey-Archer (that's every Sturmey AW-family hub produced in this millenium.)
tcs
Probably because this is the C&V forum, and there are so many old ones that are still operational. I've got three in the garage now that are 35+ years old.