You are probably missing the Alsakan Overlook, at the southernmost point of the Juran Mountains just south of Mount Tessef.

Bioware is trying to simplify the game to make it more attractive to casual players, thereby increasing the number of subscribers, thereby increasing their income. (Whether that will work remains to be seen.) Changes like this, which do simplify the game and therefore fit their strategy, will not be reverted in the foreseeable future. So he has two options: pick an AC the next time he logs in, or abandon the character entirely. Either way he is never going to be able to play that character as just a "bounty hunter" in SWTOR again and the sooner he accepts that and moves on the better.

If I read it correctly you won't be able to keep it; as of tomorrow that class no longer exists. Upon logging into that character you will be prompted to choose either Mercenary or Powertech and will be unable to play that character until you do choose.

In the far northeast corner of the Dune Sea next to the cliffs there is a path marked by Sand People totems which leads through the cliffs to the area. Beware the dread-seeded sand demon, though.