The great pity is that many distinguished units will never be reformed.
Very true, although this will happen whichever numbers are chosen to survive. To me, the greatest dis-service at the moment is being done to the 200-series Squadrons - having been the earliest RNAS units, they have an illustrious history yet nearly all are doomed with no sign of regeneration:
201 - gone not too long ago
202 - closing this year
203 - 'ceased trading', awaiting formal disbandment
206 - survives, albeit as a specialist unit rather than a typical sqn
207 and 208 - very unlikely to survive the advent of MFTS
216 - recently gone
230 - safe and sound for now
All others already long gone