Are you allowed to "downgrade" it to AD2. Seems like a loophole since the rules say you "must" take a -3 ph combat jump." Thanks in advance for the clarification.
Not a Loophole, no. The game considers more valuable to be able to deploy in the middle of the table (so to speak) as long as you can place the circular template than entering by a side of the table. Also a lot of people leave warbands and other cheap troops with template weapons covering the flanks to avoid turn 1 "alpha strikes" from a DA troop.