Metals struggled in Japan, but Takara just went their own way with Neo & Second, so I doubt Hasbro changed direction due to any pressure from Takara.

Transmetal IIs probably would have killed Beast Wars had it gone on that much longer - they didn't sell anywhere near as well the earlier BW toys. Even then, that was because of Archer's McFarlane-esque obsession with detail over recognisable modes (he still doesn't get why well defined alt modes are so important).

But there was still potential in the toyline had they shifted it away from TMIIs. Mind you, BM took the line even further down that McFarlane-esque cul-de-sac, at least with the Maximals.