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My question is if there is any way to make the crazy old man in a flying saucer useful , even if not point efficient. At least Preferred Enemy improved in 6th

No.

Anything else?

What else is there to say? Aun'va was the worst unit in the game in 5th, and is still the worst unit in the game in 6th. The only way to make him "useful" is to get a metal one and melt it down for re-casting into a better model.

Not really... Sorry.

 Peregrine wrote:
What else is there to say? Aun'va was the worst unit in the game in 5th, and is still the worst unit in the game in 6th. The only way to make him "useful" is to get a metal one and melt it down for re-casting into a better model.

That's a bit of a stretch. 6th edition has made him quite a bit more interesting, as army wide Preferred Enemy actually meas something for Tau now. If you can find a way to get past Price of Failure without eating the board edge (ie, stay away from the board edge), he could give your army a very substantial buff.

His best use is putting him on top of a bastion/fortress of redemption and then jumping him off on turn one...and hoping that he dies.

If your opponent refuses to attack him repeatedly running him into dangerous terrain might work. And shoot near him hoping for one of your templates to scatter.

Just wondering, was the space pope viable back when the codex came out?

Nope.
Buying a character that may only be useful if he dies is a terrible strategy.

ShadarLogoth wrote:
That's a bit of a stretch. 6th edition has made him quite a bit more interesting, as army wide Preferred Enemy actually meas something for Tau now. If you can find a way to get past Price of Failure without eating the board edge (ie, stay away from the board edge), he could give your army a very substantial buff.

Even assuming that this is a good idea why would you spend an obscene amount of points on Aun'va when a regular Ethereal does the job just as well?