[jpab]

With asset build pipelines that do lots of preprocessing, compress everything, and pack things with a layout that tries to minimise disk seek time while playing, it's conceivable that relatively small changes in the source data can result in touching large amounts of the final compressed assets.

But I don't work in the industry, so read my statements as just the ramblings of an interested amateur.

Regardless of the technical reasons for them, I personally dislike the reliance on day-0 patches.