As soon as "freedom class" mobile suits were created, it was OVER for the 1st generation gundams. Duel and Buster were stolen, ZAFT took what they needed from them and then they were discarded. And now even Grunt suits have firepower that match and even exceed the firepower that Duel and Buster had. A skilled pilot in a ZAKU could take out Duel or Buster in combat.

Duel and Buster suck now. You people need to stop living in the past.