GridTechs, compression and HD space.

[Alneyan]

I believe SJ wrote that the latest components will be equal or better to their previous Versions, so that will likely include price as well (the hull size will be the most important factor when determining the final cost of your vessel, unless you are toying with Stellar Manipulation).

Ram may be quite a problem though, or perhaps even processor speed when launching the game. I recall I had some trouble with Adamant with my old computer, so 160 mo would be a *ahem* slight problem in this case. Perhaps make the full 4,000 Version, and a "low weight" with a much smaller tech-grid SJ?

[Suicide Junkie]

One decreases cost, one decreases size, and the third increases damage.

None of them have side effects, so the only reason you'd ever want to use an old component is during retrofits. In those cases, you just copy the old design and replace only the parts you want to replace.

[Ed Kolis]

Actually, you might want to use old comps if you want to trade away tech but not give TOO much away