"it is square. and very very close to perfect, just a little gap at the bottom. maybe I should try epoxying the tip. thoughts? "
That is the best way to go. Who cares what a factory would do? Factories don't seal unexposed wood either but it should be. Spreading a thin layer of epoxy on the butt's end grain and leaving a small puddle where you need to built up the fit will work great. Do wax the stock and pad sides and/or apply masking tape to all surfaces you wish to protect. And wax the pad's mating surface well if you hope to ever take it back off!
A clear, uncolored, epoxy will look black after it sets. Seen along the thin mating surfaces of a pad, clear blends in almost invisibly.
You can remove (most) epoxies with vinegar if you work before it sets up. And Mineral Spirits will also work to clean any smears without harming anything else.
But, yes, you can slightly bend a pad after a soak in very hot water. You can also warp it and make things worse. Use the epoxy and seal the end grain as you do it.