After mine is completely dry a quick rub across the tips separates the tips that clumped together while damp and takes any crustiness away.
Yep, you have the gel tipped batch. The whole point of my post, for the record, is to decipher if Rooney has just decided to use a different batch of hair for their XL models that no longer has that unique gel like consistency on the tips. Even though I really do love the new batch of hair they're using because its so soft and scritchless, the gel like tips IS what made the Rooney XL very unique in feel.