I can see why they changed it. You see her outside a good bit in scenes during the daylight and the jacket wouldn't quite look like the fit of a nomad. Not dirty enough, prone to increasing heat stress if you're caught in the sun.
I dig the look tho it would be good for her to show up to a party in that. But very city slicker type wear.
It definitely has a very pleather look in game. Then again, when we meet Panam, she is not in the desert. She's doing jobs in NC. She can also be spotted in the Afterlife talking to Nash about there upcoming job the first time V and Jackie show up to talk to Dex.