Quote Originally Posted by Ode to a Grasshopper View Post
Taking away the bile, and ignoring the inconsistency in condemning 3rd-party producers for 'ripping off' Hasbros IP (which for the most part consists of reimaginings of old Diaclone and Microman toys) while giving them a pass on pieces like, say the Universe Sunstreaker mold, SS is pretty much right IMO.
I think you have a great argument in there, but Universe Sunstreaker isn't the best example since Takara owned the original design and produced the homage. The one toy that would be a strong case is Classics/Henkei Jetfire. It's clearly a homage to a mould no-longer owned by Hasbro and currently owned by Bandai, TakaraTomy's rival. (There could be a similar argument made of the upcoming Generations Shockwave, depending on who currently owns the Astro Magnum design.)

But I'd prefer a world with no Classics Jetfire, no Generations Shockwave and no third (or fourth) party toys rather than the one we live in, where Transformers forums dedicate half their front pages and much of their content to products that aren't Transformers.