This Rockport shoe model number is identical to the number on a pair of Rockports I bought about 7 years ago. In a nutshell, they don't make them like they used to.
What I've always liked about Rockport shoes is the broken-in feeling you instantly get when you put on a new pair. This newer model of Rockport did not have that feeling -- I had to wear them 3 or 4 days before they felt "broken-in". They are just not as supple. The uppers are a less-flexible leather, and the soles are not as soft.
I like these shoes, just not as much as the older ones. And I still have those older shoes, which tells how well they were made.