What G1 characterizations have been improved upon?

[Jetfire in the sky]

The issue I have with Bayformers Prime isn't so much that he's different from G1, it's more to do with the inconsistencies and character contradictions. TF1 Optimus Prime only resorted to violence if he had to and took no pleasure from taking lives. Optimus Prime's plan was to stop Megatron, but failing that he would place the Cube into his own chest in order to merge it with his own Spark and destroy it. Ratchet reminded him that this would be suicide, but it was a risk he'd take to prevent the Cube from falling into Decepticon hands. Sam's idea was of course to take the Cube and shove it into Megatron's chest, killing him and destroying the AllSpark. And remember that when Sam had the Cube, Prime wanted Sam to give the Cube to him and push it into his chest, and when Sam instead shoved it into Megatron's chest Prime cried, "No, Sam!" Optimus Prime would sooner sacrifice himself than Megatron. Sam's decision is tactically more logical, but this showed us how TF1 Optimus Prime was more similar to the spirit of G1 Optimus Prime -- compassionate to a fault. Being more ruthless would make him a more effective commander but then he would no longer be Optimus Prime. This is the Optimus Prime that the first movie establishes.

You have exactly explained why I hate the Bay movies except the first one.
Prime is the greatest hero ever and this is how for my child self and adult self believes Prime would act.