I've ridden the 8.25/32/14.38 for years now. It's always been on point. The 8.5 (esp the blue eagle) has been all over the map.
About 4 years ago at my local shop we notice the size stickers on the blue eagle usually ONLY listed the width. Every other DLX deck had the usual size stickers with width, length, and WB. We started measuring the blue eagles when they came in. WB ranged from 14.25, 14.38, and 14.5. Length was 31.8 to 32.2. We surmised that the size sticker, with width only listed, was because DLX was either intentionally or unintentionally producing 8.5 decks that were unpredictable, hence length and WB were never listed. I should note that none of these were actually an 8.5 width, they were all 8.38. Also, I can't remember if these had the I, II, III, or IV on them, or just a single dot.
A while later things seemed to stabilize. The blue eagle started coming with the normal size sticker. 8.5. 31.8. 14.25. AH even started listing WB on their web site (they were a little slow to do this), and listed the 8.5s as a 14.25 wb. Again, these were all 8.38, and not actually 8.5.
A month ago I decided I wanted to try a smaller wheel base. I ordered an 8.5 eagle. I stood on it when it arrived, and immediately knew something was off. I held it up against my 8.25, and the 8.5 was LONGER (it is supposed to be shorter). I measured the wheelbase, and it was 14.38 (supposed to be 14.25, which is the exact reason I ordered it). It had the usually size sticker on it, which stated 8.5, 14.25, 31.8. Deck was also 8.38 wide (but I expected that). I wasn't happy.
So, the 8.5 still seems to be...inconsistent.