The soft and flat appearance may be from lack of light...i.e., the leaves are trying to expose as much surface area to light as possible. The polyphylla will grow a tight spiral if given enough light. They get snowed on and all kinds of abuse during the winter...and prefer more moisture than typical aloes...My polyphylla is very happy with the ~6 hours of morning to midday sun, then relief all afternoon in bright light. I also planted it in the pot at an angle so water never sits in the rosette (this is how they often grow in situ) and planted it in a mix of coir, lava rock, pumice, gritty sand, and keep the mix moist, not soggy, and never completely dry.
As far as the offset, I simply have no clue!!! The top photo doesn't really look like the polyphylla I've seen/have, but the second photo sure does.
Here's a photo of mine when I got it in November...not the best looking plant but not terrible either...
And here it is at the end of January, looking better in the above mentioned conditions. Tighter rosette, much nicer color.
