Exactly-
1. in an exact manner; precisely; accurately.
2. in every respect

Exact-
1. strictly accurate or correct: an exact likeness; an exact description.
2. precise, as opposed to approximate: the exact sum; the exact date.
3. admitting of no deviation, as laws or discipline; strict or rigorous.

Or was it meant to mean a minor face lift w/o too much artistic license would be okay?

If that’s the case then I’d be on board for that. Similar to what was done w/ the Borg in First Contact. A slight face lift, but they still looked like Borg.

Obviously, don’t take my literal meaning to mean that I want the Enterprise to look like the Borg.

No, I don’t think you do. I think you may be taking the word ‘exactly’ too literally for the intent of the message…

Blue guys with insect antennae do not make for a very sophisticated-looking alien. If the “new group of Trek fans” that Abrams is courting get one look at Andorians, they’ll just walk away from the movie laughing. That will only reinforce the myth that Star Trek is for geeks only.

The lava field we visited could definitey be a stand-in for an alien planet — lava rock (such as pumice and basalt) as far as the eye can see in all directions. The part of the country that had the geysers also looked Alien, with warm pools of higly mineralized water that almost glowed with different colors. One thing though…there weren’t any trees. Our guide told us that almost all of the tress were cut down by the vikings and later settlers for firewood and building materials. I remember I left a $50 donation to help re-forestation projects.

Iceland has some of the most beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen…It’s a lot more than just glaciers (although the glaciers are beautiful, too).

…Maybe I don’t follow.

I like that idea. It would not solve ALL the problems, but I like the idea.