Well, in the good old 60s, you could get an I6 SS nova, a 283 Impala SS, even an SS station wagon. Were all of those against the code as well?
The current thinking is better. The SS is truly the highest performance variant of each model line where it is offered. It is not just the engine, but the total driving experience that gets an overhaul. I agree that the 90s SS454 truck was a joke, the current Monte SS is a joke (soon to be fixed with an LT Monte Carlo), but to criticize the future SS lineup because of the past seems strange to me. I don't think we will see any more normally aspirated 3800s in SS models from 2005 on...
LS2s are coming that will shame most any SS from the 60s, not to mention today's competition.
I have owned 4 SS models and still have 3 of them. They range from a 1983 Monte Carlo SS (190hp stock, but still fun to drive and come on, it was 1983, nothing was fast) to my 99 Camaro SS. It runs high 12s and other than not being built in the 60s, should pass the test of a "real SS." But I would gladly buy a Cobalt SS, assuming it performs at the level that is being talked about. It should be a fun car, an entry to the SS family for some, a fun 2nd car for others. I would not buy a Cavalier for this purpose and I would not buy a regular Cobalt either, but an SS with over 200 HP(probably a pulley away from 240 hp), 18 inch wheels, a good handling, lowered suspension, and a cool looking interior and exterior sounds good to me.
My other current SS is a 2004 Impala SS. I would swear is it faster to 100 mph than my 1995 Impala SS was. Even so, I would love to see a V8 Impala SS again, and would trade in a second. I think this is a virtual lock for 2006 according to numerous sources.
If you want to bash, bash away, but I hope SS can become for the next generation what it was to those who lived through the 60s, fun, affordable performance from Chevrolet.