I've noticed all the sandstone stairs used as roofing and doorway stairs in the villages that spawn in desert biomes are facing only one direction (don't recall which one).

I have also noticed that while the loading of chunks are faster there are some odd times when the blocks are left behind after destroying them. They still appear to be there but aren't. Sometimes missing a side texture. This happens with falling sand sometimes as well. Looks like the block that just fell is still in the air. You can still pass through them as if they weren't there. (Which technically they aren't there. They just look like they are.) Happens with other objects like torches and sugar cane as well. Refreshing the chunks by adjusting the distance will set things right again until it happens again. Seems a bit more pronounced with VBO on than off, but still occurs with it off as well.