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I generally don't like fake parts. I'm willing to cut a toy some slack in the screen-accuracy department if it manages to at least get all the parts in the right place. This means I prefer FE Cliffjumper over RID even though RID is closer to the character model. But I also prefer RID Prime over FE Prime for the same reasons. Fake parts are probably my biggest peeve.
I'd also like to weigh in on Magnus: I'm not sure the things behind his head are meant to be wheels, nor the ankle swivels. The chest design is anybody's guess since it hasn't been colored fully.

I don't often encounter partsforming, so that's more or less a non-issue for me. RID 01 Ultra Magnus has to detach and reattach his legs to transform, but it works out well in the end. Weapons don't have to integrate into the alt mode but they should at least have a storage place. As long as there's no loose hands, heads, etc. I'm good. Combiners....I don't feel combiners should get a pass. I grew up on Megazords which were fairly self-contained and BW Magnaboss who is self-contained except for all the weapons (most of which I've lost). I know it's possible to integrate combiner hands and heads in without winding up like the mess that is FOC Bruticus. Maybe it's too expensive for Hasbro right now, or maybe they just need better designers, but on a toy for kids, there should be no important stray parts.

Nemesis Maximo wrote:Shell-forming bothers me, and unless it's got a great robot mode or is a high profile character, i'll pass. Not that we see to much shell-forming these days.

I'm actually OK with the type of shellforming where the shell parts at least form something aesthetically pleasing in robot mode. Armor plating, dorsal wings, hip scabbards, even oversized pauldrons to a degree... things which could conceivably be worked with so they don't restrict the robot's range of motion excessively. A less common example might be RiD Prowl's doors, which form 'draped' hip and upper-leg armor in a casual stance - but as they're balljointed, they can be moved as necessary to avoid getting in the way of leg movement.

for the most part a little of either is ok as long as the end result is a decent, transformable, and relatively accurate (if it is indeed based off of a show model) transformer toy.

what is bothersome and completely cheating is when you have to take a bunch of parts off and either set them to the side or put them back on in a different way just to create part of a mode. For example i would really like that xovergen powermaster prime but i cant help but be bothered by how a huge section of the trailer mode just comes off and has to be put aside. I hate extra parts. i mean if just adding parts on to something to make it look like something else constitutes a transformer then this must be a transformer too http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ei2y3_a96ps/TLYcOyfGP7I/AAAAAAAAC1I/xswhaeN1HN8/s1600/enhanced-buzz-22211-1286986449-14.jpg

I can live will faux parts, if they actually enhance the overal figure. I have a slight niggle at partsforming, as I feel they ought to be fully intergrated (exception would be add-on armours etc).

Nemesis Maximo wrote:Shell-forming bothers me, and unless it's got a great robot mode or is a high profile character, i'll pass.

Shell forming annoys me the most!(looking at you Cybertron Thunderblast)

Neither makes me feel 'cheated'. I'd prefer partsforming especially for combiners, as others have said. Just leave the fists and feet to the side and I'll be fine with it.

I hate faux kibble with a passion. While I realize sometimes complex designs make it impossible to create 100% screen accuracy, I'd rather the toy be less than accurate than a FoC Jazz with six tires in bot mode, or fake doors molded onto PRID Ratchet's chest.