I have a few of the new Blacklocks. I have the 12" but not a 14". I also have MANY other Lodge skillets and DO's. I also live relatively close to the Lodge Foundry in South Pittsburg and visit their store often.
I have had no problems with the new Blacklocks and I use them daily. The new Blacklocks save their weight by thinner walls and not on the bottoms. Lodge claims the Blacklocks are 25% lighter. I love them and I do smooth out the bottoms a bit but they are smoother than their regular line.
At the Lodge store in South Pittsburg, they have a section/area of cast iron "seconds". It contains all cookware that did not meet their quality inspections. These may have small marks on them, a scratch, and minor flaws that do not affect the cooking ability/quality of the item. Really just cosmetic flaws. I have bought a few over the years and they have been perfect. The savings is significant too.
I was there a few weeks ago and they had a pallet they were unloading of "seconds", all just cosmetic issues. Any item they have that are functionally flawed they do not sell at all and melt/re-cast them. They have an excellent quality assurance team!
If the 14" Blacklock is warped, I would say it was done by who ever owned it previously. All the new Blacklock items in the store are all in sealed boxes. They can be opened and looked at but I find it hard to believe Lodge would let a warped pan slip by. Just MHO.