Yes, to go from "less desirable" to "error", regarding inlay placement, the inlay would need to extend into the mold area. As example, with a hat&cane stamped into a part of the inlay. (I think Andy Hughes has a $1 Horseshoe with a VERY off-center inlay like this.) Otherwise, it's human variability in placing the inlay, not an error. A judgment call in some cases, but that's the threshold I use.

Regarding inlay / insert orientation ... Yes, most of the older molds with inlays made at Burt Co. were oriented like that. I was contrasting the Burt process with newer production by Paulson / GPI, in which the orientation is random. However, the TR King small crown inlays have orientations that are not as precise as C&J, Arodie and others. Weren't the small-crown inlays still made at Burt Co., or did they do their own? I know they hot-stamped locally at the TR King facility, but thought they still used Burt or successors for inlays?