Well to be completely honest, eRe, it was never the quality of the new GFX that was my beef. The new sprites are nice -- I do like the new Adv. Stardock for example -- but they just look so out of place along side all the other GFX. Maybe it would have been a wiser move to not include the new GFX in-game until
all of the structures had been re-done; perhaps instead post up a gallery of the replacements as and when they are completed for all the lovely people to get upset about. Perhaps a list of what is marked for replacement could be posted up somewhere so that people like you and me don't waste our time on a moment of inspiration (3 days spent on your Spacedock is a heck of a long time for something that won't get used - I spend about 3 hours on an image, tops). Anyway, I'm not going to go on and on about this; old news.
I'd happily carve up your work, if you didn't mind me doing it. I'm a fan of lego so mashing stuff up comes easily. And as you say, there is no easier way to stay true to an established style than to raid existing objects for some recognisable elements - look at the
Riot class Light Fleet Starship edits for example.