Both of my pumpkins started out a pale yellow, one turned peach, the other turned bright orange. They both started out smooth, one developed ribs, the other, barely. I can send pictures of when it was young, and then when it was mature. My big one didn't start to turn color until pretty late in the season, the 301 turned orange early. Some people believe that when the fruit turns orange, it stops growing shortly.
Some people also believe that the more sun light a fruit gets the more orange it ends up.
I find your research quite fascinating, and in fact months ago i brought some discussion like this to the group. Of course it wasn't in quite the depth that has been discussed lately. I'm more the inquisitive type. That is why i originally wrote to you. In any event.