Ladies and gentleman, 105 days after landing I finally received my card in the mail today! 8)
Confirmed that it is the new design - larger photo, no PR type listed, and RFID wiring embedded (you can see it in the bottom half of the card if you hold a bright light behind it).
I was not asked to re-submit photos, and I sent them photos with my Ready for Visa package from the old smaller specs. It's the same image that is on my CoPR, so the old specs didn't seem to cause a problem. Anyone that has been asked to resubmit photos, it's confirmed that it must be for some other reason - the new design is not the problem.
SOOOOOOO HAPPY to finally receive this. Now the process is 100% completed and done with.
If I never have to interact with CIC ever again it will be too soon.......
Best of luck to everyone else still waiting. Yours will come eventually.