When I called BAchmann Parts Dept the other day to see if I could get replacement bushings for the worm shaft on my Spectrum 2-8-0 the lady asked me if it was one of the new ones. I told her I didn't know and what was the difference? She said that the new ones are coming out DCC ready. So, yeah, it sounds like they are coming out DCC ready. I didn't ask the lady if they were switchable to DC.
I asked her if the drive mechanism had changed also, but she couldn't give me an answer. She could sell the motor assembly, which is what I ended up buying, although I didn't need the whole assembly, just the bushings.
When the package arrived not only did I get the motor assembly, but the whole frame assembly, which is pretty much half of the loco. It was only $15, so I'm not complaining, but it just seems that they would offer a bushing replacement kit. Heck, I would have paid $15 for just the two bushings. Makes one wonder how much it costs those asians to make these things.