I like the new models better than the old - more realistic, less comic-like, as has been said. The old ones served a great purpose but with the advance of the new engine we are all better off, IMHO. However, as has been said allready the great lack of identifiable options in clothing, accessories, haircuts and so on kind of kills unique designs and makes everyone look the same. I have major problems seeing the differance between specific bloodlines in the new engine and ofthen have to flip up the descriptions to see what bloodline the toon I'm looking at actually is. Not true for all ofc (Deteis females are easy to spot for instance, but Gallente males and Deteis males ofthen meld, especially wih similar haircuts and clothing options. Intaki males have lost all racial identifiers as there is not one single 'cultural' clothing or accessory option left.) but in most cases the only telling sign is tatoo's and other options and those only tell you what Empire they are from, they don't point out bloodline.
If we simply had the great variety and identity of racial clothing, haircuts and assets back it would be possible to make toons look more unique and less generic, with the added bonus if being able to make, say, a Brutor toon look very 'Intaki' or 'Amarrian' if for instance we RP one that lives with and is loyal to either of those groups, for instance.