Since this is where I'm supposed to express my opinion on the matter, I'm more than pleased and feel privileged to do so.
I do not think an auto-gimme of a level 50 character is a good idea. Remember all the complaints about being on tfs with people who clearly had never played much before? (Ex: A level 8 blaster with Tankbuster badge. Odds are they got some pl help - not saying they couldn't have been teaming with an SG, but coupled with lack of basic knowledge, I think it's fair to say what conclusion most would jump to.)
I also don't think vet rewards, at least, not labeled as such, are a good idea. This company, whoever they are, will likely have no idea who was a vet and who wasn't. (based on the premise "if we start with no user data".)
Assuming the game gets ported over, or copied, or however that transfer happens, I'd be just fine with zoning into Atlas, Galaxy or Outbreak, whereever. Even Praetoria. I would definitely miss my badges on my main. I worked countless hours for those. I will likely never forget how much fun getting The Really Hard Way badge was! And I sometimes regret working so hard to get the empath badge on my blaster.
For a small segment of the community, the "shiny" and the pursuit thereof was what bound us together.
I know on Liberty server, folks like Energizing Ion and many others bent over backwards to help EVERYONE that wanted a badge to get one, no matter what it was. To have to start that whole process of getting 1400+ badges over again on a different character....my word, I honestly don't think I could or would do it. I just don't have the time anymore. It was rough enough to just keep up with the new content and new badges. To play catch-up - well, for me, that would be brutal. It would definitely give me some goals right away, lol.
So, if there's no user data and all of us have to start over from scratch, with level 1 heroes and villains...oh me, oh my. That's just...scary to contemplate. I'm more than willing to try, if that's all we have. But, I can honestly say I'd pay $100 bucks to have my main and all his badges just so I wouldn't have to do it again.
He could even be level 1 again, as long as I had my badges (and accolades, lol). I can always level up, that's too easy.