Genderflipping several characters - which BSG did as well - certainly would contribute to making Neo Babylon its own thing.

As for Bester, aside from being a great character, he was specifically written for Walter Koenig to allow him showing the range he couldn't as Chekov, and if there is a Bester equivalent in the new show, this could not be the case anymore. Though who knows, maybe the role will also go to someone typecast previously but now allowed to fly!