I was using .ListItemID throughout my code as that was "safer" if I happen to append or remove items from the list.

I don't think that using the ListItem collection is any safer than using the List collection. As a matter of fact, I always use the List collection myself.

So something seems to have changed. Any ideas or did VFP change over time?

Nope - I have no ideas about this one. Sorry. Maybe Tamar can give us the answer...