2023 ORP seat anomaly?

I was installing a seat cover in my 4R and noticed an odd feature? There is a piece of thin carpet flap sewn to the right side of driver seat with a cut-out around the seat belt receiver. You can’t see it if sitting in the driver seat. You can see the top edge of looking from the passenger seat. I posted a few pics. There is not a similar flap on the passenger seat. Any idea why it’s there? Does anyone else have this? You could tell unless looking for it. When I was putting an elastic strap under the front edge of seat (for seat cover) I noticed it.

 

My 23 Limited has it on the driver’s side too. No clue why it’s there or what it is or does.

 

Mine has same flap.

 

Mine has it too. My guess is that it’s a wear strip.

 

19 TRDP with the flap.

 

I have it also. It looks like the purpose of this is (and I could be wrong): It's a piece of felt that stops rubbing/vibration from the seat rails so they don't rub on the center console.

 

I was on another forum (T4R.org) and a guy there said it’s wear prevention as the driver seat gets moved more. And he said it may keep your fingers out of power seat hardware if you drop something in the slot and try to retrieve it.

 

I have it on my '23 ORP as well. I agree that it's probably intended to prevent wear, noise, and crushed fingers.

 

Wow. I was right. Everyone needs to mark this day on their calendars!

 

My 2022 has this for the record.

 

I tried removing the felt but then got a check engine light, so I put it back.