This is why I like R3 Astromech. You roll you dice. You get horrible hits, only a eye. You cancel 1 eye and get 1 evade. Preorder 3 Arc-170 just for that. XD

I'd say the biggest problem with R3 is that it doesn't do much for the low-PS generic ships that need it the most. R3 won't have the chance to use the evade it's getting if they shoot last. this is why I think I'll try it most on T-70's with Comm Relay so they can hold on to the evade until needed. Then consider that pretty much all the named pilots (especially aces) already has an astromech of choice, so nobody asked for a new astro there, but at 1-2 points cheaper than regen I could see R3 making an occasional appearance with high PS...

R5-D8 on Porkins isn't bad at all. If you use his ability to remove stress on a red move, and if you take damage you then use that action on R5-D8, there is only an 11% chance of still having that damage at the end of the round.

Have to be pedantic and point out it is ~14% , but more importantly using R5-D8 afterwards wastes your action again that you carefully enabled with Porkins in the first place by discarding the stress token. Is it not better to just take the damage and target lock or focus?