Yes, but then it would be less G1-accurate, and the purpose of these new Aerialbots is to make them look more like the G1 Aerialbots compared to the CW/UW Aerialbots which took more creative liberties.
So things like...
+ Wings attached to the legs instead of the back = G1 accurate
+ Squished chunky jet = G1 accurate
Bear in mind that Slingshot should actually have more back clutter than this toy already has. Namely the aft section of the fuselage which, in G1 Slingshot, swings up and connects with the cockpit/nosecone section and lies on his back. While this may work fine on a cheap little G1 toy with two whole points of articulation, it doesn't fly with more contemporary high poseable Transformers action figures. Even Combiner Wars/Unite Warriors Slingshot incorporated the aft into the lower legs. Another reason being because Slingshot needs to have a clear mid section to allow Superion's arm to bend. With CW/UW, they just needed to keep the waist section clear, but with AotP Slingshot, and much like Legacy Dead End and Drag Strip, Slingshot needs to able to separate into halves, with Slingshot's upper body forming Superion's upper arm, and his lower body forming Superion's forearm.
Yes, CW/UW Quickslinger has less lower leg kibble, but that toy doesn't split into two halves to form Superion's arms. HasTak are trying to do something different with this set to distinguish them from CW/UW. If these changes aren't sparking joy for you, then stick with your CW/UW Superion (and if you don't own one, come buy mine!).
And look, there are features on this toy that I don't love, but I understand that it's to try and match the cartoon model. And I'm one of very few fans who prefers G1 toy accuracy over cartoon likeness, and Hasbro of course must appeal to the majority. Being different from my preferences doesn't make this toy inherently bad though. Just different. But some features that I'm personally not a fan of include:
+ Plain white featureless squares on the sides of the head
+ Visor is the same orange as the rest of the face/head.
+ Bland looking torso with a boxy chest.
...but these are all deliberate design choices made to emulate the G1 Sunbow cartoon model, so they're not flaws.
Another thing that I think AotP Slingshot does have a distinctive Harrier jet mode. I prefer this over CW/UW Slingshot who, as a repaint/retool of Fireflight, more closely resembles an F4 Phantom. But yeah, unlike the Stunticons, I don't think that AotP Slingshot and Air Raid are any better or worse than CW/UW; it's a matter of preference. This differs from the Stunticons, especially Motormaster, who are more objectively flawed. The AotP Aerialbots have also sacrificed the Scramble City internchangeable limb gimmick, but that was to be expected.