Spells: Harm Touch should be partially resistable?

[Scoresby]

I was looking over some Velious patch notes and came across this.

January 9, 2001 patch.

- "Harmtouch" is now resisted as if it were a "Lifetap" spell, meaning
that it is all-or-nothing, and nearly unresistable with exception to
encounters that are immune to magic or out of the acceptable level
range. In addition, maximum damage for Harmtouch has been increased
starting at 40th level.

Implying that before this date you had partial resists.

I suspect it isn't now simply because of all the HTs I've eaten in HS, not a single one landed for less than max.