I just got my resident card today (had to change my immigration status).

One thing I did not realize before is that they have done away with the various QR-coded passport stamps for renewals and status changes. Now your only proof of status in Japan is your resident card or juminhyo.

The English captions are much easier to read than those on the old ARC. I have had to use my ARC as ID in the US before and always got raised eyebrows at the kanji birthdate. Now there is a clear Y-M-D marking.

Also, somewhat surprisingly they returned my old ARC with a hole punched through it.