If we're going to call them a hero, let's put some real heroics in place.
Exactly.
I think they had to restrain themselves with the earlier heroes because there were multiples and the hero ability was going to be used all the way through r9. With just one hero per planet, they're free to grant them an ability on par with a TB omi. As you said, really make them heroic. Make them seriously valuable enough that you're willing to break up your usual Leia or JMK comp to throw in Bodhi Rook or CUP or whatever.
The fun of having an r7+ toon is watching it kick some booty. So let's see it!