Model Airplane News had an article late last year on how to modify the look of the current plastic pilots (author felt they looks to dorky as well) using some modelling clay, some paint and some imagination.

The results were a completely different looking pilot and it didn't seem too hard to do. (demo pilot in article started with the standard, then added different foirehead, added mustache, sideburns etc. He ended up with a British WWII pilot)

I put Woodstock (from Peanuts fame) in mine, less work

If you are interested in the article, let me know and I'll check to see which issue it was in.

Nuker