When you really compare the Paladin with a picture of a Tie Fighter, they look significantly different... It's just that the vertical side-wings are so well known that people automatically think, 'Tie Fighter'.
But it's not a Tie Fighter import, and it looks cool and quite Bretonian (and not a near-clone of the other Bretonian fighters), even if it shares a resemblance to a SW ship... I, for one, am glad to have it.
Here's hoping it gets balanced well... Would hate to have another unused HF in Disco.