I realised today that when I disconnected my front drop links that there was no m12 restricted washer installed RYF000021. Mine are new (installed by others).

Should there be or has design changed? 2011 4.4tdv8 Vogue
Baltic Blue

Yes - lol Paul,
2001 Discovery 2 TD5, 211,000 miles & climbing
2006 FFRR TDV8 Vogue 151,000 miles & now sold
Member of Midland (Land) Rover Owners Club, www.mroc.co.uk

I have 2 new rear drop links still boxed. No washers there either. 2011 4.4tdv8 Vogue
Baltic Blue

I don't think they are considered a "consumable" item as they are very hard / difficult to damage, so the new links don't come with replacement washers.
I think they are probably needed because the steel the strut brackets are made of and low spec washers is pretty soft and would crush due to loads from tightening up the ARB nuts abd the high additional loads from the ARB when twisted a lot due to suspension articulation. Paul,
2001 Discovery 2 TD5, 211,000 miles & climbing
2006 FFRR TDV8 Vogue 151,000 miles & now sold
Member of Midland (Land) Rover Owners Club, www.mroc.co.uk

Over the winter I replaced everything suspension, both front and rear including all new nuts, bolts, and washers.

The most complicated thing when ordering all the parts was calculating just how many nuts, bolts, and washers also needed to be added onto the order at the same time.

I guess that some people don't bother to replace nuts, bolts, and washers.  L322 3.6 TDV8 Vogue. 07MY
ML 320 7 Seat full leather etc. (The Black Pearl)

Just swapped mine out and there weren’t any washers, either with the replacements or on the car