X11 device now needs to be explicitly started?

         _
platform i686-pc-linux-gnu
arch     i686
os       linux-gnu
system   i686, linux-gnu
status
major    1
minor    6.2
year     2003
month    01
day      10
language R


Until this version, I've not had to explicitly start the x11 device.
Now, (at least with lattice plots), one is not automatically started

once it's recognised that no device is open.  I notice that lots of
things have changed with x11 with this release.
Is the current behaviour by design or fault?

best