From memory Hasbro said they had devised a new method of chrome application, one that would hopefully not lead to the dreaded cosmic rust.

Recon Ravage was the test subject for this new method and whether it could withstand play/whether it looked good.

But, as others have said, chrome really only looks good when it's used to subtley highlight something (eg: RiD Ultra Magnus's grill/Omega Prime's chest) rather than as a major design feature of the toy (eg: TM2 Scourge) otherwise all our TFs will come out looking like 1960s/70s Cadillacs.