have hasbro/takara become lazy...

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

I love that Simpsons episode.

I'm not a completist, but can happily live with repaints as long as there's some kind of (semi-plausible) reason & it's not ridiculously overused (i.e. Cyb Scattorshot). Given the engineering costs involved compared to a simple toy car or action figure I can see how Hasbro would need to recoup costs, and repaints are a pretty good way to do so. Yes it's lazy, but it's good business, and let's face it, it's tradition. G1 just wouldn't be the same without the seekers, or both Rumble AND Frenzy.

In defence of recolours, a lot of the time I prefer the recolours to the originals - i.e. Energon vs. Armada Tidal Wave, BM/Universe Strika, Energon Mirage/Dreadwing. I didn't pick one up due to lack of $ but Universe Blades looks pretty sweet too and the rotor gimmick was a nice nod to his character. On the other hand yellow Rescue Ratchet is horrible, even with my penchant for gaudiness (G2 Combaticons rock my world but even I have limits).
What does tick me off is toys like Animated Sunstorm, Shockwave and co. shelfwarming in the USA while we don't get them released over here. I remember the last movie flood season and it had me baying at the moon for some variety...