Does anyone out there actually WANT an old damage deck? I'd trade mine for just about anything.
Why is the old damage deck still legal?
I've always just used 1 damage deck Ina game that we share, are you supposed to each have your own? How does his work if one players wants to use the old deck and the other wants to use the new?
Each player should have a damage deck.
Why should I have to buy a new starter set to play competitively? When you make me do things, I get angry.
It's not cause Im poor! I'm cheap and I value choice.
If only the new damage deck also came with 3 spaceships for less than the price of 3 spaceships, then it would be a great deal.
How bout I sell you a damage deck and a file cabinet for $40. The cabinet is worth $50 so its a great deal!
i like mixing both decks together.
Because they refuse to package the deck by itself or make people buy the new core to play competitively. Which is weird when compared to competitive Imperial Assault, where you have to buy the core and both big expansions ($200msrp) just to sit at the table...
Why should I have to buy a new starter set to play competitively? When you make me do things, I get angry.
It's not cause Im poor! I'm cheap and I value choice.
This is exactly why, making the tfa starter a mandatory buy was a bad idea when most of already had two original starters.
And if you didn't like the movie being forced to pay £25/$40 on ships you want nothing to do with is a kick in the nethers.
Don't play Imperial Assault competitively then, since you're forced to buy all the boxed expansions to play in tournaments essentially.
Edit: haha ninja'd by Jake. 
Why should I have to buy a new starter set to play competitively? When you make me do things, I get angry.
It's not cause Im poor! I'm cheap and I value choice.
If only the new damage deck also came with 3 spaceships for less than the price of 3 spaceships, then it would be a great deal.
How bout I sell you a damage deck and a file cabinet for $40. The cabinet is worth $50 so its a great deal!
It sure is considering my entire hobby is filing cabinets. I've spent hundreds of dollars on them. During my spare time I'm on a filing cabinet forum talking about filing cabinets. Sometimes I even spend my weekends going to filing cabinet tournaments so I'll probably take 2 if you've got another.
Each player should have a damage deck.
Interesting, is this a tournament only kind of thing or am I just missing it in the full rules pamphlet?
Played two different players with old decks this past week. Both took the crit that caused a pilot to lose its pilot ability and EPT. The first one happened to Omega Leader, the second happened to Redline.
Flying the old deck is a liability.
hehehe, and then your PATROL LEADER gets a "secondary weapon" or "ept" crit and you laugh your pants off
sometimes in non-ace list (yeah, they DO EXIST) old deck is preferrable
i like mixing both decks together.
Is that legal?
I thought this would be a simple answer, not a big debate. 
My view is that balance is very important. I'd happily spend a little bit more money or stop using something to ensure the game is balanced.
No, FFG stated before Worlds 2015 that while Worlds would be required to use the new damage deck, the old one was valid "for the forseeable future" (or words to that effect). The reason was that they wanted variety in the Meta. And, it goes hand in hand with listbuilding. For example, some lists (4BZ) really like the old deck as several crits don't affect them. Where as some lists (Aces) do want the new deck because while harsh, they aren't as bad as the old deck.
This is a horrible reason.
Choosing your damage deck is like choosing which FAQ or edition of the rules you really wish to follow. Sounds horrible.
It sure is considering my entire hobby is filing cabinets. I've spent hundreds of dollars on them. During my spare time I'm on a filing cabinet forum talking about filing cabinets. Sometimes I even spend my weekends going to filing cabinet tournaments so I'll probably take 2 if you've got another.How bout I sell you a damage deck and a file cabinet for $40. The cabinet is worth $50 so its a great deal!If only the new damage deck also came with 3 spaceships for less than the price of 3 spaceships, then it would be a great deal.Why should I have to buy a new starter set to play competitively? When you make me do things, I get angry.
It's not cause Im poor! I'm cheap and I value choice.
*edited for Anglish
Edited by channellockjonFFG should require the second deck be official. To mitigate the cost of the **** things, you could, you know, give them out as prize support throughout a multi-season phase out program or offer as a "print on demand" option. If they continue to manufacture the original starter, there is zero reason they couldn't come with the new deck.