At least they comment on the similarities to Japan in the manga. in the anime they're just handwaving it.
I have come to the conclusion that there is only two types of Device redesigns, minimalist, and overdone. Raising Heart fall into the first category. super stripped down, very utilitarian. Laevatain and Graf Eisen fall into the second. why is Laevatein so bulky and overengineered, it looks like a Power Rangers sword. and Graf Eisen has this weird thermos thing shoved into the shaft, on top of a un-ergonomic kink in the shaft itself.