I've got an 8" on the way (I couldn't pass up Dan's outstanding price)- I'll have to verify any problems with the lens installation. I think the LA damper on the 8" is the same as the 11" - which means you should be able to put a thicker lens in without any problem - it simply tightens the LA further into the rubber tube. This is, in fact, how we increased the duarbility of the glass lens in the 11". If you remove the o-ring and tighten the bezel all the way (until it closes the gap completely), it increases the pressure on the lens. This keeps the lens from moving back and forth and prevents it from imapcting the inside of the bezel, which causes it to break.
Chris
[EDIT] - I'm still torn on whether or not the new #034 o-ring fixes problems, or causes more. I'll do some testing with the 8" when I get it.