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Got an '82 D28 on the bench for its first fret job, and found the fretboard itself is radiused at 14", but the fretwire is dressed at (the more normal?) 16" radius.
Will be returning it is a similar condition, but wondered if this is a relatively common occourance, or just an oddball/QC issue?

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I didn't check the year, and don't know how common it is, but the most recent Martin dress I did had a factory fresh fingerboard with a radius that[url]tightened[/url] towards the bridge. Almost like it was backward when the slots were cut.

I would just make sure it's not a symptom of loose or improperly seated frets.

The longer I do this, the more I get used to just shrugging my shoulders and moving on.

Checked all the frets and they were well seated and level, just badly worn.
(I tap the frets with a small piece of brass to check for unseated or loose frets, and use a nuts on fret rocker, all before any work starts, then again after refret, before leveling.)
Nothing loose or poorly seated.
Wierd, but as you say, shrug shouders, move on.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Ain't that the truth.... next.

I've been known to say to my Docs that I'm a lousy friend who only shows up when I want something.... Guitars are a bit like that with Luthiers, we rarely see the perfect ones....