I'd kind of like it if they put a serial number some permanent place that doesn't show. Maybe the neck block? I know, rationally, that it makes no difference. How often is a stolen guitar recovered using the serial number? Rarely, I imagine. And, dating? We put of lot of effort into that, but does it really matter? Condition, sound, playability matter but in the final analysis, date of manufacture is really just fodder for curiosity.