I have been working on a ported app for the last 4 years, and I have to agree, it would have been better to re-write at least the front end, saving the methods & reports!

BUT, with the tools we developed, we can now port an app much quicker & cheaper, so my decision today would be based on time & money. Pick from Getting the clients live in the least possible time, with the least support hours OR giving them the best final result?

Also, clients now want web based apps, so a redesign requires new specs, which might take years to determine, given that the clients are text based and may not know what they need.

A new look probably won't make the customer any money! So getting financing to reinvent the wheel is tough!