ETA on Advanced Class change?

Which is a huge simplification of the debate on the legalization of drugs or prostitutes. Matters tend to be much more nuanced than "does it bring harm to anyone else". But before I get really off track and start discussing the legalization of prostitution...

The argument really isn't: does it hurt any one individual if I do this? It's: does this feature hurt the game?

I've yet to hear how allowing AC swaps hurts the game. As for being able to buy level 55 characters with BiS gear, the repercussions to the game as a whole are readily apparent:
A) as alts can simply be acquired at level 55, far fewer people will take part in the leveling process, making it much harder for those that do so to get groups;
B) also, gaining a new toon at level 55 quickly and effortlessly gives a player 5 more companions to dispatch on crew skills, which if enough people take advantage of, can greatly flood the market with crafting products while also reducing demand for crafted products, damaging the game economy in a big way;
C) gaining BiS gear obviates the need for PvE end game, killing that play altogether, which ultimately leads to no player retention outside of PvP (which could see a surge as I know quite a few people play this game because it is Star Wars, and may find any way to keep playing), which probably wouldn't get enough attention to really keep this game alive and growing--maybe enough to convince BW to keep the server on, but certainly no new content, and in the end, a very inbred game.

None of the above would result from AC swapping. For those players that don't like alts, AC swapping might reduce their need to level toons, resulting in a lower leveling population, but that only applies to players who don't like alts AND find their current toon unplayable or unenjoyable. If that player doesn't like alts, then I seriously doubt he's rolling new toons just to experiment (but, he MIGHT purchase an AC swap to mess around with something new). So, probably little to no affect on the overall numbers of leveling players.

It violates the principle of no class-swapping.

Which is not something that every game needs to abide by, but asking for AC-swaps is little different from asking to be able to play rage/madness/lethality on a mercenary.

Your argument that AC swapping would not decrease the leveling population even though it obviates the need for alts while the ability to purchase a level 55 would decrease the leveling population is a bit speculative. You've argued for why certain subgroups may or may not behave a certain way, but in either option you're likely to see some people not level alts who otherwise would have. The only real merit I see in debating that would be as to meaningful quantity.

You are correct, spec is not class. AC's however are much more than simply a spec. They may not be as distinctly classes as you would like, but they are not simply specs, no matter what some may wish.

Even the devs have stated that they are fundamentally DIFFERENT CLASS designs and that they were treated as FULL CLASSES.

I see them as distinctly different classes within a story line, while you may see them as merely an unchangeable spec.

Like you, I would prefer if they had made it much clearer whether the AC's are classes or merely a spec.

If they are classes, I would have preferred that they made it clear that you were choosing STORY at creation and CLASS at level 10 or later.

If they are merely a spec, I would have preferred that they allowed AC changes as they allow spec changes.

Even in this thread, the feedback does not seem to be a clear majority, either way. Go back through the thread and I think you will find the numbers of individual posters in favor of allowing class (AC) changes is roughly equal to the number of posters against allowing class (AC) changes. I did take the time to do so. I no longer have the list I compiled, but there was no vast majority, or even a clear one.

Some posters definitely have more posts than others, but the overall numbers of individual posters on each side are very close to equal.

Ultimately, the only thing that matters is what BW thinks.

So far, it seems that they think that your choice of class (AC) is still PERMANENT, no matter how much people wish otherwise.

BING BING BING!!!!! We have a winner. that is exactly it. human nature. People want laws to stop other people from doing things, not themselves.

My main is a Powertech (Advanced Prototype), I also have a Mercenary (Arsenal) they make extensive use of Rapid Shots (basic free attack), Unload, Rocket Punch, Rail Shot, Flamethrower, Death from Above, Determination, Electro dart (merc has range but effectively the same skill), Energy Shield, Hydraulic Overrides, Chaff Flare, Kolto Overload, Stealth Scan and Thermal Sensor Override.
In fact, their main attack rotation tends to take a couple of skills from the Bounty Hunter ability pool, a couple from the Powertech or Merc pool and then the couple from their chosen Spec.

Good old Sage to Shadow (Sorcerer to Assassin) swap gets brought into the discussion a lot. But, how is the gear change any different to that required for a Powertech respeccing from Tank to DPS (or DPS to Tank)?

I cannot say the same if I swapped from Healer Commando to Tank Vanguard

This is unshakeable logic. And absolutely correct IMO top to bottom.