On the one hand, this seems like a completely nonsensical, pointless change for the sake of change that has no tangible effect on UX.

On the other, something about the particular gradient used makes me deeply uncomfortable. Just obvious enough to catch your eye, but indistinct enough to make you feel like something's wrong with your eyes.

A change that accomplishes nothing and a change that degrades the experience are in theory mutually exclusive, yet somehow this feels like both.