I think it goes back to like anytime of mass producing, there easier to make and can be churned out rather quickly as opposed to making new bodies or products or what not, a large portion was probably the convenience and familiarity with a particular form or model, kind of like in war dawn where megatrons original decepticons all had the same drone look.

Why were the seekers in G1 all the same model, yet Starscream is the only one who stood out character wise?

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Because Starscream had like 99% of the air-time of the Seeker group. Not only was he their leader, but 2nd or 3rd in command of the Decepticons. Typically, leaders or commanders end up getting more of the spotlight than other characters. Although, it seems that characters such as Thrust got more attention than Skywarp or Thundercracker.

 

If every one had the same body, they wouldn't be unique and they all have the same weaknesses. Then they'd be easier to defeat. Plus, TF's are really humanlike. Just like we'd be pissed to walk into a room and see someone with the same outfit we're wearing, I guess they'd be the same. Cept for the fact that they're not wearing outfits technically.

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It is more like Humans wear clothes, and robots wear paneling. Their base structure would most likely be the same, like our skeletons or muscles. So you have a difference between two characters, say a TF and a Drone/worker, but it would be the same as a human vs a human soldier. Same base structure, different capabilities. Doesn't make them weak.

 

What always bothered me that in the non gen1 continuity series (RID, Armada etc) when a character was reformated, they just changed the colour scheme. FOR PRIMUS' SakE DESIGNERS, USE SOME INGENUITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Back in the 80s, it was more acceptable to keep characters around longer, and NOT change them. I believe it was not allowed for a character to die on television. Since most of these reformattings occur because the character had died, then that would explain that. As the early to late 90s rolled around, Anime had shown that powered-up versions of characters became very popular (partly thanks to DBZ) and it all trickles down from there.

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I don't mind the characters powering up, but with the exception of smokescreen, roadblock and leobreaker, they were just a repaint. I know its easier that way but its just sloppy. I mean, Bumblebee wasn't colour changed, he got a whole new look. It was started in the japenese series' and they haven't gotten out of the habit yet

I can't believe you stay up at night thinking about this.

I can't believe you stay up at night thinking about this.

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Just think about the good old days of dissecting TFTM on listserv... for months on end...