Rules consequences of dragonborn not being a template?

[Red Fel]

Deep Dwarf Traits (Ex)
These traits are in addition to the hill dwarf traits, except where noted.

Drow Traits (Ex)
These traits are in addition to the high elf traits, except where noted.

Aquatic dwarves have the general aquatic racial traits described above and all the dwarf racial traits, as well as those noted below.

Air goblins have the general traits of air races described above and all goblin racial traits, with additions and exceptions as noted below.

Fair comparison. But those are established as basically racial variants - same race, with some minor tweaks. This is a distinctly different creature, with a massive pile of changes.

Moreover, variant races are a fixed type. A Drow is a modified High Elf, pretty much without exception. A Deep Dwarf is a modified Hill Dwarf. A Dragonborn... Is a Dragonborn, flavored by the race of your choice. There is a standard Drow, a standard Deep Dwarf, a standard Strongheart Halfling and Whisper Gnome. There is no standard Dragonborn, because a Dragonborn can be made from anything.

It's just always struck me as easier to visualize as an acquired template, is my point.