Not sure if it applies everywhere, but the kids in my family and at the school I teach in, toys don't cut the mustard as much anymore.

Sure kids still want their dolls and nerd guns and the odd big item, but they mostly want technology, phones, iPads, video games etc.

Plus when you look at the crap on the shelves (most of the tf section seems to be filled with terrible looking Titan figures!) it can be quite daunting. Add to that the focus on Prime and Bumblebee has backfired, you can only sell two characters so many times. G1 worked so well as there were hundreds of different characters for kids to find a favourite in.