Ok here's the rundown of what Metro will allow when it comes to restarts:
If you choose to reuse someone - traits & LTW are not allowed to change -- UNLESS you're using a spare where you got to choose the traits. If you chose any of the spare's traits, that spare has to get a complete reroll of traits. Just one click of the dice and no more just like if you were starting with a founder.
As for life states - founders of a Life States Dynasty can change their life state as long as they do it before their requirements are finished. This means that you must start the file EXACTLY as you were previously and then if you want to be something else, find a way to make yourself that life state within the restrictions of the rules.
Regarding the looks - Metro's ruling is that you're not allowed to change the look of them -- period. He is the Challenge Board God and we do what he says. So if you truly want to reuse that person, then don't change anything. Don't be the person that adds freckles or a birth mark and says it's a new founder when we all know that cosmetic changes like that don't actually make a difference. It's the same person - they're just spotted now.
Any questions?