I'm sure there are a lot of different opinions on this, but I guess I don't see it as a bad thing.

The only major advantage a .45-70 is going to have over a modern muzzleloader is that it is much faster to reload it. Ballistically, I'm don't think I'm going out on a limb by saying that there are many modern muzzleloaders (i.e. Savage) and loads that duplicate or better the .45-70. And I doubt many of the old-fashioned designs shoot as accurately as many of the modern ML's out there.

I guess the downside (depending how you look at it) is there probably will be more hunters out in the woods during primitive season. Personally, with the numbers of hunters in the US declining, I'm usually in favor of hunting regs. that encourage more people to get into the sport. In any case, I don't think there is going to be a flood of people kicking down their local gunshop's doors to buy 19th century replica rifles. There may be an increase, but I can't see it being that big.

I live in LA and am not for it either, go to http://www.louisianasportsman.com/forum.php?&sec=forum&act=full&repID=40 234&term=
there are some discussions about it, seems most people are for it.