TimothyR wrote:i don't see how the protector armor is even comparable to MP09. masterpiece hot rod is leaps and bounds better than classics hot rod in both bot and alt modes. same goes for masterpiece rodimus compared to protector rodimus.
one argument that people make is that at least protector rodimus combines with his trailer.. well, optimus didn't combine with his trailer, so why should rodimus.
plus, in my opinion protector doesn't get some of my favorite design points of hot rod/rodimus quite right. for instance, the face isn't very hot rod, the arm exhausts aren't very prominent, and the back spoiler doesn't quite scream hot rod. plus, masterpiece hot rod comes with a matrix and a chest compartment for it, a welding torch, his buzz saw, his goggles, and combining guns.
then people argue that he's not as tall as masterpiece prime.. well, if you haven't noticed.. only megatron is.. for a reason. every other different mold is a bit smaller like rodimus.
then people argue that he's too tall.. well if you have prime, megatron, starscream, skywarp, thundercracker, and grimlock.. he wont look out of place on your shelf, even with the other classics/universe/generations/RtS figures
to me, it seems like a lot of people just like to find someone wrong to justify not buying it because it's expensive. and if people don't have the money.. then they don't have the money. that doesn't mean protector is better. masterpiece hot rod is practically flawless and looks like it's ripped straight out of the cartoon. don't get me wrong, if we weren't getting a masterpiece hot rod, i'd definitely pick up the protector armor. but.. as i said, masterpiece hot rod is flawless.
Most if not all of your points are flawed in one way or another. Case in point, I could say, "well Classic Optimus Prime didn't have a matrix, so why should Protector Rodimus Prime". You see how ridiculous that sounds? You have a bias opinion and really a preference towards the Masterpiece version of Rodimus Prime. It's only better cause you like that version better, based on the criteria you set. That doesn't prove or make one better than the other. The only thing that the two figure has in common is the character it represents. Masterpiece are design to be cartoon accurate, so it is only fitting that it comes with a matrix and all the other things you mentioned. Fansprojects Protector wasn't design in this fashion. It's main design purpose is to upgrade a existing toy. That by itself already puts limitations on what can be accomplish. And it wasn't like Fanproject attempt at the upgrade failed, on the contrary they executed it beautifully. A new Alt mode, Space Winnebago, and a updated Rodimus in bot mode, the true Classic Rodimus Prime. The goal with Protector wasn't to make a cartoon accurate Rodimus Prime, it is to be a updated modernize version of what Rodimus Prime should be now. That's what the Classic line is meant to be.
There isn't anything wrong with the Masterpiece Rodimus Prime but I wouldn't go as far as to say that it is flawless. A person that doesn't want to buy an item will always come up with reasons not to buy it, but the main reason is alway price. Hey, your money, do what ever you want with it. A little advice on collecting, buy what you want and not what others tell you to. Free coin or not, I will get this when it becomes available.