He exists in the Republic, but no Rebel version. I started this thread so that details of the Rebel Trooper discussion don't completely derail the "obsolete" vs "improve" discussion:

http://www.bloomilk.com/Forums/default.aspx?g=posts&t=11552

Something else I just thought of. In general, I'd rather to boost a piece than replace it, but there are some pieces where I'd care more and some where I'd care less. I think the basic troopers for each faction should be boosted - not replaced. I think of them as a basic staple that shouldn't be tossed into the back of the box. Basic troopers aren't supposed to be good on their own anyway... they need commanders. I'd rather see the commanders (e.g. Rebel Captain) become obsolete than the Rebel Trooper.

I'd also care a lot less if Arcona Smuggler was replaced by Veteran Arcona Smuggler. It's not a high profile piece, whereas a faction's basic troopers are kind of iconic of the faction. This is probably also why I was so disappointed with GMLS version 2. GMLS is a very high profile piece, and now it's completely eclipsed, such that it could only be brought back to life through direct named boosts.

but make it so he couldnt be used with the new one...

I think a rebel trooper squad varient would be a healthy and much needed change to the faction which in that past has always needed a "unique" (sorry i couldnt help myself) cast of characters. Mix it up a bit and create something new that people will use.

i could see something like this
BUt i would change Camraderie to be
Camraderie(A character in your squad named Darth Revan gains Greater mobile attack and Master of the force 2)

IT would not only allow him to block more attacks, but allow him a similar damage output to the new revan, plus he could move 10 and do it, which could work to his advantage.

Maybe revan costs 28 less, would that be better

I think most of us New Zealanders came into the game relatively late, or after, WotC production, so we don't have older pieces that are sitting round waiting to be empowered. A big chunk of my pieces (about 2/3) are from Legacy of the Force or later - and underused pieces from that era seem to be easier to prop up than ones from the earlier sets, like Atris/Echanis and Winter/Leia JK.

As well as the practical reasons that echo24 and others have mentioned, I'd much rather get a completely new Grievous that I can use a proxy for, rather than hunt down a VR from Revenge of the Sith because there's a companion piece for it. I'm all for people being able to compete without having to spend lots of money on pieces, and I like that the game's going that way - the GenCon winning squads from the last couple of years have been very cheap to construct (apart from building up a collection of Lobot reinforcements), with no need for a $50 chase piece or 10 mouse droids. It should be about playing skill and meta-reading, not about who's spent the most money on the game.