In Electron-Positron-Annihilation R, the ratio of the hadronic cross section to the muon cross section, is calculated as the sum of charges squared, multiplied by 3 to factor in the 3 colors. I know that this describes the experiments pretty well, but I have some points I do not understand (Referring to PDG-report in Chin. Phys. C, 38, 090001 (2014), https://pdg.lbl.gov/2020/reviews/rpp2020-rev-cross-section-plots.pdf).
1.) First of all doesn’t this contradict statements like given in Is color charge a quantum mechanical observable? by e.g. @AcuriousMind : "“red, blue or green" quarks do not exist. Objects in the theory that are related by a gauge transformation are literally the same, there is no difference between a "red quark" and a "green quark" - a quark is a quark is a quark.”
2.) A minor point: It looks like R does not directly goes up to the next higher value after the respective J/Ψ($c\bar{c}$), ϒ(1S)($b\bar{b}$) mesons but stays put at the lower value up to Ψ(2S), ϒ(4S). Why such a delay?
