Are you sure their being truthful ? I’ve met a few people who have claimed to have things “Powder Coated” but the shop lied to them and it was just liquid paint “hence the drips/runs”. Because with Powder, you use an electro-static charge which makes the powder cling to the part and because of that process its impossible to get drips and runs.
In regards to the porous part. That could be due to them blasting with something like a steel shot and its actually wrecking/pitting the metal, hence the porous look afterwards.
Then last but not least. More and more people are starting to Powder Coat using half ass setups or “hobby style kits” which cost a few hundred dollars and dont work all that well.