As fun as this thread is, I am generally still confused as to why they changed the design back in the first place?
I love OG, and still have some problems with Compilation (Which, btw, as an update, I've actually warmed up to Advent Children and Crisis Core. I re-watched Advent Children - this time the Complete version, and I understand it a lot better despite still not really being interested in the nuances of Rufus' character being brought back. I also recently played Crisis Core for the first time due to my own curiosity getting the better of me, and I now embrace and consider it probably the best installment of the Comp, despite it's peculiar retcons and new inclusions. I still have a special spot for Before Crisis and Dirge, and have come to enjoy the whole Compilation for each respective thing they bring to the table.)
However, I always thought, even when I was first getting into the OG way back when after watching Advent Children, that the Compilation Buster Sword looked far superior to the OG Buster Sword. I always chalked up the OG design to hardware limitations, so the Comp design with a golden hilt felt like a really cool way to spiff up the old design and make it more special.