i agree, i refuse to use anything other than traditional karma and she was one of my first couple champion pickups. some champs i get it, the new model is core, but sometimes the throwback style strongly referenced is kind of a key thing to being able to stomach a larger rework.
i don't love the new reworks of a few champs in a few ways, but i was able to overcome that in the case of karma by having that old comfort zone on one side to live with while adapting. with sion.. i have considered asking for him to just be removed from my account. not refunded, just removed fiat because i dislike all of it including the new art so much it presents a barrier to really trying to stomach it all enough to grow into the new arrangement.
which is altogether funny when you think about it, but also fairly human in general. it isn't bad but it feels like enough of a total departure to feel bad. i mean imagine if you randomly had one champion you used removed and a random champ from the same style pool of champs granted, like they randomly remove your mundo and grant you volibear in his place. thats what it feels like when theres a kit and design rework and the new appearance and style don't line up simultaneously.
i mean even with a touched up or redone base model, the traditional skins generally tried to retain v.o.'s and thematics. the fans on karma for example aren't base model, and the "guess whats about to hit the fan" line, or the absence of the puke neonish color highlights or garishly bright white in the new base skin over the muted neutral scheme.
sivir came out okay on the update for not being a big jump on the base skin before and after. sion didn't. practically speaking neither did karma. you jump on new siv and it feels normal enough. the thing is how should they gauge level of departure for knowing when to do a proper throwback for the champs existing users?