The Energon Pub

Admittedly, this will cover only the toys I currently own - which means no Leader Prime or Megs, no FABs or Cyber-Slammers, and no Swindle, Starscream, Bonecrusher, or Blackout.

In order of size:

REAL GEARS:

Longview
Pros: Outstanding articulation, cool "superheroic" build, realistic alt mode.
Cons: Umm... too small alt mode, and it really doesn't magnify anything. Yeah, nitpicks, that's about it.

Zoom Out
Pros: Good articulation, nice touch with the viewscreen becoming either a "cape" or "wings". Realistic alt mode.
Cons: Too small alt mode (nitpick), Monocle over one eye looks stupid, bad "hands"

Booster
Pros: It's Laserbeak!
Cons: Could have had an articulated neck (nitpick)


DELUXES

Jazz
Pros: Cool car mode, nice sturdy torso and legs, and IT'S JAZZ!
Cons: Flimsy "folded hood" arms, only moderat articulation.

'76 Bumblebee
Pros: I like the car - a friend used to own one. Decent articulation, you can put one gun in his hand and the other on a shoulder or whatever. Cool automorphs (yes, there's actually 2)
Cons: Poor QC - too many have the 'breaking tab' problem. Also, duck feet look a little goofy.

Wreckage:
Pros: Outstanding articulation, cool "Dinobot / Megatron" head, actually has a decent alt mode
Cons: Difficult to line up the rear end when transforming back, and the chest cannon looks a little goofy.

Brawl
Pros: Counter-rotating turrets, nice details.
Cons: Poorly "locking" shoulders, poor arm articulation as a result

Barricade:
Pros: When the tops of the doors are folded down and out (and the "straighten leg" mod performed), looks a lot better than in most galleries I've seen. Decent articulation, not great.
Cons: Spring-loaded fist has a hair trigger; Frenzy looks incredibly stupid.


VOYAGERS

Ratchet:
Pros: Good and unique transform, no significant QC issues I know of. Awesome 'stocky' bot mode, realistic alt mode.
Cons: No weapons besides his "axe" and "Capture Claw" despite the fact he has a cool cannon in the movie.

Ironhide:
Pros: Rough and tough, looks and feels SOLID in truck mode and looks ready to blast something in bot mode. Decent articulation.
Cons: Upper torso does NOT lock down unless you put a nerve-wracking amount of force on it. Posing the feet in any way causes that lower leg to start to detransform.

Robo-Vision Prime:
Pros: Nice looking paint apps, excellent articulation. The way the thighs rotate is a nice touch. The dual weapons thing with the exhaust pipes is also cool.
Cons: Front third of a truck hanging off his back. Most of the time this can be pretty much ignored, though.


As a final note, I could give a flying flip about "scale". It's just a thang to me.

I haven't opened my Leader Prime. I don't know what the good points and bad points are.

I agree with you on Ironhide.

Blackout: Innovative design.

Bad gimmicks. Poor poseability.