I'm pretty sure they were still "alive." I subscribe to the barroom theory, that they were alive and possibly awake, they were just scared stiff at the time.

 

Also, I'm inclined to think that Unicron projected elements of his own personality into his spawn. If you notice, they were all a lot more serious and down to business after the reformatting, even Galvatron. The thing is, Megs was a lot more strong-willed than either of the Seekers (and definitely moreso than the Insecticons), so whereas Unicron's personality took over the others to a greater extent, and continued to do so after his death, it didn't really mesh well with Galvatron, and he ended up kind of schizophrenic

The way I figured it, was that Unicron wanted live ones with battle experience. Reprogrammed them personality-wise yes, but experience and instincts are left mostly intact.

 

That's my reasoning when I tried to wrap around it as a kid anyway. That for whatever reason, Unicron either didn't want to or couldn't actually program a robot up from scratch. He wanted warriors who were already experienced. The personality was just a small thing he could tweak.

 

Of course, I didn't actually think it in those words, since my vocab was pretty limited in those days. ;)

All the cons, including Megs were in some power save mode (stasis lock?), intended to preserve them until they could be repaired because they are all unconcious as they float toward Unicron.

 

Megs only wakes up after Unicron says his name a couple of times, and Unicron's light/voice/energy washes over him.

 

I don't think they are "reformatted" into totally different beings from who they were, and I don't think G1 Unicron can create life.

 

The Cons' sparks merge with Unicron's energy creating a new being made from who they were and Unicron's dark energy. They are almost like the offspring of their former selves and Uni.

 

*shudders @ his own "mating" example*

 

Later, Galvatron whistfully refers to Megatron in the third person, and also Scourge reminds him that they belong to Unicron, supporting the case for their obvious "newness", while their personalities support the case for some retention of their previous forms. Hell, Starscream even "haunts" Cyclonus, and Scourge later, and they sure remember him (and not just from his death). Unicron being able to make them those Cons feel pain/control them supports the fact the they aer merged in some way.

 

The question still remains as to who can "create" a TF because AramadaCron did so with Sideways and the Minicons, and EnerCron apparently has the ability to respawn anything/body that he previously consumed.

 

Well, that's my take.

Interesting question, hence some really profound, and deeply philosophical answers/opinions. Personally I can't see Unicron capable of creating new life. If Unicron is the TF equelivent of the Devil, I can understand him being able to reformat/construct a new life out of something that was but not being able to create a life from nothingness. Basically he can improve it not create it. Question. If Unicron is the destroyer of worlds (Devil) does that then make Vector Sigma the creator of all TF life? (God)

Oh yes, and in answer to the qustion I'd have to go with Stasis lock, all except for Megatron of course. As far as I've understood it when an Autobot/Decepticon dies and there Spark is extinguished, all the colour fades away (as it did with Optimus Prime) and they become a leaden statue. I don't recall this ever happening to any of the Decepticons before being refomatted. (Dammit another reason for me to watch the movie yet again.)

My guess is that they were either Dorment, or that they were "wiped clean" of all previous memory

Later, Galvatron whistfully refers to Megatron in the third person, and also Scourge reminds him that they belong to Unicron, supporting the case for their obvious "newness", while their personalities support the case for some retention of their previous forms. Hell, Starscream even "haunts" Cyclonus, and Scourge later, and they sure remember him (and not just from his death). Unicron being able to make them those Cons feel pain/control them supports the fact the they aer merged in some way.

If I recall... It went something like this.

 

Sweep: There seems to be something wrong with your (Cyclonus) voice.

Sweep 2: Yes, you sound like Starscream.

Scourge: No need to be insulting.

Starscream: You will suffer for that!