5FDP, i think you just had a bad batch of WST dinorobots.
mine were great. WST blaster and shockwave were also great! so great that i went out and bought 3 of each. 1 for each mode and 1 set just for the heck of it.
accurate paintjob (eg. blue chest swoop), nice chrome, nice diecast parts.

But of the legit takara WSTs i have, OP, MEGs and Thrust all have pretty crappy robot modes (more worse than their full size versions) whilst silverstreak and sideswipe are just magnificently constructed. other people seems to think so too as evident by their high aftermarket price on the bay. .

so its pretty much a hit and miss with takara WST's.
that or its a matter of second and subsequent waves improving upon the first?