Question about 1969 Barracuda door lock button

i know Mopar had a common practice of "using up old parts" on newly released models.

Not really common practice. Old parts were just boxed up and used for parts dept inventories.

Old parts being used on early pilot cars pre-production cars is because the new parts weren’t ready yet. Those small number of cars end up in brocheres, magazine tests, and parts catalogs.

Some parts carried over for a while. But the parts interchanged with: form, fit and function. The front mounted locks don’t function the same. They don’t offer the same safety and convenience

The 69 doors take different lock linkages parts too.