Steve,
Are you sure?
I ask because I just re-read the BJI review on the original Slant and Phil told Joey there was an additive to make it more "grabby" than similar strong pearls and to give it more midlane. That describes "Soaker" to a T.
Besides, with Soaker in the Solid, the Hybrid and the HD, it almost doesn't make sense for it not to have been in the original pearl.