Cool as usual
Mrmm- I would rank Soundwave over Starscream in terms of recognisability though - while starscream may have been bloody recognisable, to the lay-person I'd argue soundwave's kicka$$ voice and the awesome-factor of the tapes would puch him up

Hotshot... I just cannot understand. I never watched Micron Legend (refused to watch Armada after discovering that it was the unfinished one anyway - and STILL WANT TO WATCH MICRON LEGEND BUT CAN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE) ; In Superlink(Energon), he'd grown into a senior character and the spot of the 'character-kids-can-identify-with' had arguably been passed on to Roadbuster(Ironhide I think) with his partner Kicker.

I do love the list you've built and the analysis, but these are just my arguments