Sparks and Protoforms

I've been re-reading Beast Wars: The Gathering and Dawn of Futures Past and it got me thinking. Are all protoforms just utterly blank slates with a new spark with no prior life experience OR can Transformers be reverted to protoform status in order to be ready to explore/colonise new worlds.
I ask because its made obvious that sparks can be transfered into a protoform body (I.E. Tigatron, Airrazor and Ravage) and also the Maximals and Preadcons that are activated in Gathering all look like they know their stuff regardless of being protoforms. And then there's the question of Grimlock being in the Axalons crew as a protoform.
I ask because its made obvious that sparks can be transfered into a protoform body (I.E. Tigatron, Airrazor and Ravage) and also the Maximals and Preadcons that are activated in Gathering all look like they know their stuff regardless of being protoforms. And then there's the question of Grimlock being in the Axalons crew as a protoform.