My understanding from Cheshire Figment is that renewals have always started at the end date of the prior AP, there was never any gap allowed on a renewal.
I think the PP was just talking about getting a new AP on their next trip, not a renewal. But I could be wrong, but I don't believe a renewal with a gap was ever allowed.
This is my understanding as well. You have 30 days to renew an expired pass but it still reverts back to the day it expired.