I think Transformers comic writers, after 30 years, are stuck with "damned if they do, damned if they don't" situation.
If they keep reusing the classic Gen1 character traits, character "relationships", and concepts, it can get boring, lazy, and even confusing if there are month/year gaps between reading issues/arcs.
But, if they don't use the classic Gen1 elements that we know and are used to (or expect), it looks and feels too wrong for the fans to accept, and it becomes a vocalised hatred/complaint of that series... prompting future writers to not risk it. (I remember how Armada Starscream was rejected by fans because he wasn't a traitorous backstabber... he was a loyal Decepticon, who then sided with the Autobots because he was too honourably loyal for the Decepticons)