Canon

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Yup, Botcon exclusive. Unless Verno means some other TM Tigatron that got cancelled, which is quite possible.
TM Scorpy was a McDonald's toy IIRC.

[GoktimusPrime]

I'm sure, even you Gok, have to admit that a Spark held within a container, powered by the All-Spark (Ie, Primus himself) and is known as 'The Matrix' is a better notion than some mystical device held in the chest of a 'Prime'.

Nope. I prefer the notion of the Matrix being a divine artifact that Optimus Prime carries inside his chest. But maybe it's my G1 bias kicking in there. As I said before, if you looked at Beast Wars continuity in isolation, then yes, the notion of it being a Spark container works. However if you want to look at it as part of overall Transformers continuity, then it doesn't because there's too much contradictory canonical evidence from other sources - and Beast Wars canon itself doesn't sufficiently support the container notion when faced against opposing notions from G1 and G2.

While Forward and DiTillio had misunderstood the Matrix as being a container for Prime's Spark, this notion was never explicitly stated in the Beast Wars cartoon -- all you really have is an ambiguous visual cue; which confused the crap out of Transfans at the time and sparked huge debate about what it meant... until the truth behind it was revealed (i.e. misunderstanding on part of the writers). G1 and G2 canon on the other hand explicitly states the nature of the Matrix and does NOT state that it is a receptacle for a Spark (lasercore or life essence). G1 cartoon continuity states that it is a collective font of knowledge, and the G1 comics repeatedly and very explicitly defines the Matrix as being created from Primus' Spark and is thus a divine artifact. This is also why it is the one thing in the universe (multiverse) that Unicron fears - because it was forged from the life essence of Primus himself and thus it is Primus' power stored in the Matrix that can destroy Unicron.

In fact, when the Matrix once attempted to attack Unicron (using Thunderwing as its vessel), it was powerless because the Matrix had succumb to evil - and as Unicron put it - in that realm he has no equal! (and thus destroyed the corrupted aspect of the Matrix, inadvertantly re-purifying it) It was only when Optimus Prime picked the Matrix up again and plunged it into Unicron's maw, that Primus' light - untainted by evil - was able to destroy Unicron. In G2 when Starscream used the Matrix to merge himself with Warworld and transform it into his new body, Primus' light started changing Starscream's behaviour - making him a force for good. This irritated Starscream who then surrendered the Matrix back to Optimus Prime. And of course, it was the divine power of the Matrix that defeated the Swarm, purifying it, and - as retconned - ultimately led to their evolution into becoming the Vok.

Yup, Botcon exclusive. Unless Verno means some other TM Tigatron that got cancelled, which is quite possible.
TM Scorpy was a McDonald's toy IIRC.

Yeah, I have that Transmetal Scorponok toy. I also have Transmetal Dinobot and Blackarachnia which were only available as Maccas Happy Meal toys (note I said Transmetal, not Transmetal 2 ).