> incremental improvements to the engine thrust is par for the course

Blue Origin is matching from Raptor 2 to Raptor 3. Comparing thrust at sea level, lbf:

Raptor 2 | 507,000 [1]

Raptor 3 | 617,000 [1]

BE-4 | 557,143

BE-4' | 642,857

BE-3U | 160,000

BE-3U' | 200,000

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ton-force#Tonne-force