If you called what are now Flights 'squadrons' you could preserve historic numberplates without resorting to using such numberplates for OCUs and FTSs. No.19, for example, might still be flying fighters, rather than Hawks.
As to what people who served with a unit might think, I can tell you that my old Dad would be much happier to see 206 still in existance than disbanded, and there seems to be no reason at all that the Nimrod force should be using only two numberplates.
I'm quite sure that most of those now on 41 would also like to see their old unit continue in service, whether with eight or 16 jets.