Well i believed Hicks was a good character to the movie, provided that silent leader type, lead by example. Plus not to mention the budding relationship between him and Ripley. Not much found of relationships in movies like Aliens, but wouldnt have mind to see them grow more in Alien 3 provided they kept him alive...I mean could have him in 3rd one and then have him die in a heroic way, not just outright before movie even starts