Assuming that the change isn't retrofitted, meaning that a feat isn't replaced in generation, I'm fine with it myself. It seems that familiars are the only critter that doesn't get any improvement. Of course, I don't know 3.5 anywhere near as well as I should Is the death of the animal companion still a detriment to the caster in 3.5? IE, does the caster take some setback beyond, "Well shit.. I have to get a new rat?" sort of thing?<br/><br/>I remember in 2nd ed that the caster took a pretty serious hit for loosing the things, so no one wanted one.