I'm reading a book about the USS Bunker Hill and its "Helldiver Squadron"(that's the title of the book btw),Bombing 17. It really shows the Beast to actually be a very good plane,capable to withstand quite a lot of damage and to make it back to the ship if flown properly.
I don't think the issue is what we need or do not need in the game. After all,we don't 'need' to play games on the computer in the first place.
Warbired has the SBD and that's why AH should provide the Helldiver as arefreshing interesting alternative.