The PCGS + was jointly announced with NGC in March of 2010. It was a collaborative decision between the two companies, so I don't see how it would be an "answer" when NGC also has the +. Yes, PCGS started applying the + to grading labels 60 days or so before NGC, but only to coins in their PCGS SecurePlus grading tier. Only later did PCGS make the + a part of their normal grading for other tiers -- which NGC did from the very beginning. Here's the original joint announcement.
it bothers me they collaborated. i can see their two CEOs meeting and rubbing their chins as they cackle over new ways to suck money out of us
I actually think they did a decent job of replicating the look of the original doily. Just for comparison sake, he is an original doily I picked up a few weeks ago: