While I can agree that it seems every-time you turn around someone has some new "thing-a-ma-jig" the Granite thing has been around for year's. I've been in Ball pythons since the early 2000's and can remember hearing about Amir's "Ebony" that was made with some "granite" stuff. To me the granite is more of a way to describe and aberrant trait that seems to pass on to the off spring. I have a Granite Pinstripe that it totally different in color and patten than any other pin I own or have hatched. In the end it seems to be these slight differences that are turning out some neat stuff. Look at the Blade or tangerine stuff that RDR is doing.
I like Tim will likely drop the granite thing as it doesn't seem to add that much to the over all look of the animal. But to say that its not a thing is simply know true becase it does change the animal's look even if its just slightly.