>>6434989Adults could tell the difference.
But usually they will need to brand them differently.
I mainly collect non-transforming Transformer figures because I am fond of the characters' personalities and their comic style proportions in action scenes and dynamic pin up poses.
I am pretty sure that people are mature enough to be attached to transformers characters beyond the transformation gimmick, there it would no longer be the primary selling point.
After all, Cybertronians have their bot mode as their primary form.
Even Japanese robots like Gunbuster and Gaogaigar I would prefer a non-transformable as the transformation isn't too significant.
However, things like a non-transformable Diaclone Diabattles V2 would not appeal as it doesn't have a sense of character, is non sentient, non unique, and its main selling point at the moment as a mech design would be its combination gimmick.
If it was featured in an anime or comic doing dynamic poses, then a non-transformable may be welcomed.
Most of Transformer toys are meant to be a reflection of a design from a source material and non-transformables could accurate reflect the comic proportions.
I was never too fond of earth alt modes anyway as it forces a wide upper torso due to toys not being able to recreate the mass and shape shifting aspect of cybertronians, and the earth mode as a disguise requires too much panel repositioning and some times shellforming.
The only proper transformers are the War Within designs where the doesn't necessarily try to hide their body parts, but are visibly ambiguous already.
My rule is this:
A good transforming robot is one that doesn't look like it could transform in either bot or alt mode, but the alt mode should not attempt to conceal bot parts(limbs) by using shells or panels.
