I think this is the answer. A lot of us had high hopes for it being the second Thunderhawk and not sucking like the rest of these do. I myself was looking forward to trying out the new trains. Then I rode it, and halfway through I wanted off.
Consider, too, that this was basically their cheapest option to having an inverting coaster, and that is important for a park to have. Only enthusiasts care about stupid sh*t like having a specific type of coaster or a specific manufacturer. That's not what I'm talking about here. There are a few people for whom having a coaster that goes upside down is a selling point, and the lack of one would keep them away. Granted, a larger number avoid inversions, but the group that really wants an inverting coaster is significant.
Now that they have Storm Chaser, though, in my mind it renders T3 obsolete. The problem is that SC has only lap bars. I didn't encounter anyone in line for SC who wouldn't ride T3, but I did encounter people in line for T3 who wouldn't ride SC because of the inversions with lap bars. You can argue all you want that lap bars are perfectly safe, and I agree with you, but when you're running an amusement park, selling tickets is far more important than winning an argument. You can't pay your bills with being right.
For that reason, if they do replace T3, it should be with another, better invert, or else something like a floorless, etc. that has inversions and OTSRs. That's playing to your audience.