I say this, because GE directly adresses that Bond hasn't been on the service for a number of years, namely, the years between LTK and GE. When Bond quit on LTK, he quit for good. Until GE, that is.

Thus why the pre-title sequence pre-dates the Dalton movies - to explain the behaviour Bond was at at the Dalton movies, and to signify that after LTK, Bond was no Agent.

Got it now?

Plus, with WARHEAD you have a good chance to introduce Bond as one with no history or connection to the Connery/Moore one.