Well Hot Rod didn't mature, he actually transformed into a totally different character, Rodimus Prime. It didn't happen to him until he opened it, so it only makes sense that it wouldn't change someone who didn't open it.

As far as why didn't Optimus change...well I think that he did change when he got it... Of course we see when he was created, and so that hurts that theory, but the question is, if that whole story about the Aerialbots is true, where was the Matrix at this time? I think that Alpha Trion probably had it, and put it into Orion Pax when he was repaired.

 

In summary...

 

Hot Rod transformed into Rodimus Prime when he OPENED the matrix.

Orion Pax got it from Alpha Trion, transforming him into Optimus Prime.

As far as Scourge, well that didn't make any sense.

It also didn't make sense that Rodimus Prime gave up the matrix in Dark Awakening, then changed into Hot Rod for that one scene....he never changed back when he got the matrix...he was just Rodimus again.

i simple mistake on magnus' part.

 

btw,i belive he would havemade a better leader than hot rod[big mistake]

andi agree with prime i would have given him the matrix

I think he was trying out his newly installed Matrix Tractor Beam that is designed to automatically suck in the matrix. But it malfunctioned, only causing the matrix to hover. So he had to manually install the matrix.

 

p.s. Does every Autobot have a hole in their chests to hold the matrix just in case they get it? If not, why does Ultra Magnus have one? :tflaugh

becuase magnus is under armor and underneath the armor he looks identical to prime.

 

 

prime has a hole in his chest=magnus has one

prime has stacks=magnus has them

prime has legs=magnus has legs

Or maybe it was like slipping on a new jumper and the infernal plastic bit is still in it, even after removing it in full, it hurt him a little so he shifted the Matrix a bit to make it less painful.

 

-Chuckles

BLAH! When did Magnus put it in his chest twice?????

:wtf In the animated motion picture, after Prime dies. But anyway, I think Magnus just wasn't used to having anything placed inside him and had to reconsider for a moment but since Optimus could do it so could he.

the matrix didnt come with directions so i not mad at magnus

Lesse...

 

Much like a new pair of pants, Ultra Magnus probably had to get adjusted to it

 

My (poor) humorous speculation :tflaugh1

:wtf In the animated motion picture, after Prime dies. But anyway, I think Magnus just wasn't used to having anything placed inside him and had to reconsider for a moment but since Optimus could do it so could he.

I just popped in my dvd, and OOOOHHH YEEEAAHHH....I remember. I never really thought anything of it. I think he just put it in crooked, and had to fix it. He always came off as a big clumsy foo to me, so it doesn't surprise me.