Did you ask at REI if they wouldn't give you the new Randonee for the same cost? Or are you assuming? We returned a tent and some shoes that we had bought on sale and got replacements for the same cost even though they were no longer on sale. I think (but am not positive) that REI will replace the item - and if they no longer have the exact item in stock they will replace it with a comparable item. It's worth checking it out.