The middle extra also mentioned that they originally planned to have Cliffjumper be a regular cast member for all of Season One, and to be killed off in the finale... by Megatron (who was only to make his first appearance at the end of the Season). But the Studio asked for a death in the first story, to emphasise the reality that anyone can die at ANY time. (a kinda dark and morbid theme to have established straight up in a kids cartoon)