Well, I don't think "the old Star Trek" is viable anymore, just because so many of the people involved are way too old to be in it. How could anyone think an origin story was possible with the old cast? It kinda HAD to be recast. And I would SO rather go onward with a new cast and new stories than have to make do with old stuff. Because Paramount were damn smart about it, ST has always had tons of room for new tales - how many books are out? Over 300 at last count, I think.

Also, I don't think they had to change the characters, which is why they really haven't changed them very much at all. It's the circumstances that have changed, influencing the way the characters react and develop, but they're still the same people essentially. Just that a couple of them have issues they didn't have before. (Uhura, for instance, is almost exactly the same, except for some stylistic touches.) It's more the look and style of the film itself that is different.

I think that's why I'm so OK with the changes, because they haven't messed with anything that's really important. (Well, other than the fact that the ship's sensors now completely sucky - what the hell is up with THAT?)

/ranty McRant. sorry. :)