Well they didn't quite just "cast" him like to shut him up. They approached him, from what I've read, more as a peace offering. Aknowledging they were doing this with BSG other than he wanted but they were still respecting the roots. And I think they are. The original was building towards a lot of interesting discussion on morality and the soul, and the re-make has dug right into there.
I'm not with Dirk on the idea that there's moral ambiguity in the new show. Yes the Cylons think they're doing the right thing, but that's the nature of the world. People don't think they're evil, even the most evil people in the world (barring outright nutjobs) think what they're doing is right.
I'm also not with him on the characterization of the male characters. Adama isn't weak and has no trouble making decisions, same with the XO and most of the others. Now Lee/Apollo has trouble making decisions, but he's the classic character who's situation has outstripped his moral certainty, he wants to do the right thing but is now in so far over his head in life that he's generally not sure what the right thing is, and the situation has gotten severe enough for him that even things he used to be certain of he isn't anymore, happens to a lot of 20 somethings it's part of managing to avoid adulthood for too long.
It's good because it's not a direct allegory. I do read it as a bit analagous to our current situation: a fight for our lives against a relentless enemy which has vague complaints against us, but who should have gotten over it a long time ago. The bad guys always have a point of view, but it's clear that the cylons are bad guys, with the exceptions of those with pangs of conscience. Lots of discussion of the nature of religion. All very good stuff without Hollywood telling us what we should think about it.
Well they didn't quite just "cast" him like to shut him up. They approached him, from what I've read, more as a peace offering.
To-may-to, to-mah-to.