This sums up my thoughts exactly. Some of them I'm happy to get rid of (Gus), but others like Bowdaar I am very attached to, and to just have them be gone completely sucks horribly. I was operating under strong hints from Bioware that we'd be able to retrieve our companions one way or another. So far I haven't found any way to do it, and it is indeed very frustrating.
And yet, the dev posts I recall specifically stated that certain companions would be recoverable (especially previously-romanced companions) via that console.
Obviously Coldfront is a much better network. Why? because I'm there, obviously.
Also, I have declared myself the emperor of #swtor, and established every day as a holiday and party time. So feel free to join us, and let the party begin!