have to agree with you there, yes update the graphics that is great, but keep the elites as they were, totally agree on the scare factor, there you are happily chugging through the level when pop!!! gold elite appears and its time to hide lol....
In a nutshell update graphics but dont update the elites skins, maybe its just easier for 343 to drop the Reach skins over it, as isnt the multiplayer using the Reach engine? I could be mistaken I usually am!!