behavior of ActiveRecord::Base#== changes between 3.0.1 and 3.0.2

In 3.0.1:

  def ==(comparison_object)
    comparison_object.equal?(self) ||
      (comparison_object.instance_of?(self.class) &&
        comparison_object.id == id && !comparison_object.new_record?)
  end

In 3.0.2:

  def ==(comparison_object)
    comparison_object.equal?(self) ||
      persisted? &&
        (comparison_object.instance_of?(self.class) &&
          comparison_object.id == id)
  end

new_record? is changed to persisted?.
This is not same when a record is destroyed.
Is this a intended change?