i'm not a 3d-model-smith, myself, but that seems like it would be a lot of work to go through, wouldn't actually provide any advantages in trade for breaking the original model, and it might be more work than creating a new material for your new model. The only problem i could see here would be if a replacer mod replaced the default model with a new model that used the original material set, and then also replaced the original material set with something incompatible with the original model. i was a little surprised to see it also, but it seems like a easy way to reduce the size of the already big download, and as long as retexture mods produce material sets that work with the original model, they should work fine with SS2 also. it's the MATERIALS, the textures, specular, and other maps, that are reused. the MODELS are new and stand-alone with the extended pack.