David,
Are the two different looks bench shots versus gray background studio shots? It does look redder when wet & fresh. I think thats the difference; light, camera and wet.
Different top coats will not appreciably change the final color, but any top coat will look different that dry. As for fade resist, I haven't personally tested over time but according to my research, this is the best stain available. They call it Solar-Lux!
Good Luck,
Steve