I would say just let the user choose a different DESIGN of a donor shotgun.
It would save time and server the same purpose. I'm a fashion whore on GunZ so this appeals to me.
As far as knowing the opponents guns affecting your play style, they do.
I would play much more evasively if they had 11's due to their devastating power if I get hit at
close range with them.
You could just give the players the option to choose a different design of the donor item to their preference,
and not the item itself. Just the design. The Idea is nice though and I support it!