I'm not a big fan either, but it's the simplest option available that displays the relevant information. Here's a more complex option that may work:

1. Keep the existing Dependencies/Superceder fields for editing purposes (perhaps changing the names to "Needs" and "Replaced By"), but move them below the priority and keywords fields
2. Remove the current "View" mini displays for those fields
2. Add a new full width "Related Issues" field above the comment field
3. Display any related issues something like the following (truncating the titles if needed):
  Replaced by 6494 (xmlrpc client does not support HTTPS)
  Replaces 7987 (Python 3.1's http.client doesn't support HTTPS)
  Needs 6484 (No unit test for mailcap module)
  Needed by 9923 (mailcap module may not work on non-POSIX platforms if MAILCAPS env variable is set)

After all, it isn't the field *editing* that needs changing, it's only the display of additional information.