How do Reference Prices work for a product that has many variations (ie apparel sizes & colors)

We have an single apparel product which has multiple colors and sizes. These are not different models, it is the exact item but just in different sizes & colors.

We set this up as a single parent ASIN with all of the variations as child ASINs.

We have enough sales now to meet their minimum to validate the reference price. However the reference price is still missing and Amazon support is now saying that each variation needs to meet the criterias separately.

Given they tell me something different every time, I have zero confidence this is correct. Also it makes no sense that all the different sizes & colors of the exact same item need to be qualified separately. If that were the case, we’d have to sell over 100 units of the apparel item just to validate the reference price?

Can anyone confirm what their experience as been &/or if what Amazon is now saying is true or false?