Hey Eye. I've looked at that set myself and honestly believe it's the nicest set, apart from maybe the havana set (debatable), that OS has come out with recently. Huge bases as mentioned. I don't like the lacquer either but knowing OS' product quality, it's probably done in a classy way. I think that the lacquer would probably smooth the surface of the pieces as you mentioned. I'm not a fan of antiqued pieces, since I have a set from OS with the white side antiqued boxwood, and the pieces do feel very different from natural wood. The pieces that I have that are finished most to my liking are the Noj Dubrovnik pieces, although I'm hesitant to mention them any more for fear of being branded a crusader of sorts 
. Silky smooth finish on those pieces, I think finished with shellac and beeswax.
Back on topic of the Craftsman repro itself: Perhaps the bases make the set actually look a bit clunky? It reminds me of the Ultimate pieces, although the pieces look a bit more refined than that. I would rate it a 7.5 or an 8.0 / 10 the way it is now.
Lately we have seen a number of newly produced sets being antiqued, new white pieces made to look older like an antique set.
I was talking with one of the guys I have done a lot with at The House of Staunton and he says these antiqued pieces feel and sometimes smell different. I guess it is common for the process to include an acid wash or something. This gives the surface of the wood a rougher feeling than the normal polished Boxwood or Maple.
I see that recently Carl of Official Staunton just came out with his version of The Craftsman set that is antiqued and lacquered. I'm thinking the lacquer works to cover the rough feeling of the wood and in this case, I believe the original set was lacquered.
i do not personally care for either of these processes. I play Chess with my sets and the shiny of the lacquer can be distracting during play.
I also feel that if I wanted an old looking set, I would buy,... an old set. I want my sets to look new because they are new.
I have held my opinion on these sets quiet. The sets offered as antiqued hve been available, in that design, in the new state otherwise.
But now, Carl has offered this The Craftsman set in only antiqued and lacquered:
I love this set and its dimensions. With the King at 3.5" look at how broad and beefy the bases are on this set, superb.
I messaged Carl, and the way this set was made, this is the only way it is available.
And, looking around the internet, there is no other set design like this available that I could find.
If you either like or at least don't mind the antiquing and lacquer I suggest you take a hard look at this set and buy it.
In the meantime, I'll just suffer with the unattainable.
Sure, I'll wait for a set like this to come out in standard polished boxwood.
What do you all think about this antiquing and lacquering?