That is true. It is not objective, it's the figures I would consider G1 or G1-era, or G2, including the E-Hobby and Diaclone color re-uses. Everyone can have their own list of G1 figures and include whatever they prefer though. The fandom and the fiction are wide enough to support that.
Japan's G1: Transformers: Headmasters Autobots Clones (Earthrise) Monsterbots (legends, titans return, titans return) Doublecross is Legends, while the other two are from Titans Return. Twincast (Legacy) Targetmasters Artfire (Gen Select), Richochet/Stepper (2019 Gen Selects), though not a good update given the changes to his alt-mode and lack of Targetmaster. Pointblank is also available, but not Sureshot or Crosshairs Fort Max (Legends) Technobots (Unite Warriors version) Trainbots - no WFC/Legacy/Earthrise/etc. version Cassettes - no modernized versions of Dile, Saur, etc. Decepticons Clones (Earthrise) Sixshot (Legends) Soundblaster (Seige) Cassettes - no modern version that transform into cassettes / shields MegaZarak / Scorponok Targetmasters - see last post Duocons - see last post. Best I can see right now, Twincast, Soundblaster, Artfire, and Stepper/Ricochet are the only 1987 Japanese-exclusive characters released here. I could be missing something though.
1988 - Powermasters, Pretenders, etc. Powermasters Titanmaster Prime is the closest, though he's a headmaster, and the truck itself is quite different from the G1 Powermaster figure. The 2017 Ginrai figure is a little better, but still waiting on a better version that's a powermaster. Slapdash, Getaway, and Joyride do not have modernized figures that are still powermasters. Triggerbots - Backstreet, Dogfight, and Override do not have modernized figures. Spy - covered in prior post Six-changer Quickswitch is just a retool of Sixshot. It's close, but the modes don't entirely match. Headmasters/Targetmasters - covered in prior post Nightbeat and Siren headmasters were released in Titans Return, but not with the vehicles that turned into cars, so these are half-re-released. Hosehead has no modern version. Scoop has a modern version: Quckmix and Landfill have no modern versions Pretenders / Pretender Beasts - no new updated figures that are a pretender shell, inner robot that transforms into some vehicle/animal. The little Prime Master headmaster things aren't a proper update. Sparkabots - Fizzle, Sizzle, and Guzzle have no modern versions. (Yes, I realize the sparking gimmick is unlikely to survive. That's not a criteria) Cassettes - Grandslam and Raindance have no modern versions. Decepticons Headmasters Fangry - Worlds Collide Pack Horri-Bull and Squeezeplay headmasters were released, but not their animal/robot portions. Powermasters Darkwing and Dreadwind were released in Power of the Primes, but with that odd Prime Armor stuff and no powermasters. Targetmasters Needlenose has a modernized Legacy version; the Spinister is not packed with his targetmasters, but they were released separately in the same line: Singe, Hairsplitter Quake has no modern version other than a redeco of Hardhead in Titans Return, not a true Double Targetmaster update of the original. Pretenders - no updated versions that are pretender shells with inner transforming robots have been released. We do have little tiny figures wtih the shell transforming into what the robot used to become, but that's not a real update in my opinion. Triggercons Crankcase (Skids retool); Ruckus and Windsweeper had Combiner Wars versions, but they were too different to put here. Crankcase becomes even better if you get the nonnef upgrades to him. Firecons Cindersaur, Flamefeather, and Sparkstalker do not have modern versions (yes, I realize the sparking gimmick is unlikely to be carried over. That's not a criteria.) that are close enough to both beast mode and robot mode. Cindersaur had a Power of the Primes redeco of Slash; the other two don't have modernized versions in any form. Tapes - Squawktalk and Beastbox have no modern versions Doubledealer Earthrise has a version, but he's not a double powermaster like the original.
1989: Pretenders, Micromasters The Pretenders have not been re-released in a version that matches the pretender shell and transforming inner robot theme. Bases: Hot House, Ironworks, Greasepit, Airwave Off Road Patrol: Powertrain, Highjump (Mudslinger and Tote have no modern version) Race Car Patrol: Roadhandler, Swindler (Freewheeler and Tailspin have no modern version) Rescue Patrol: Stakeout, Red Hot (Fixit and Seawatch will be out Fall 2023 with Deathsaurus) Battle Patrol: Bigshot, Flak (Yes, it was released as Topshot. I'm using the original name just like I use Skyfire instead of Jetfire.) Sidetrack and Sunrunner have no modern versions Air Strike Patrol: Whisper, Stormcloud (Nightflight and Tailwind have no modern versions) Sports Car Patrol: Blackjack, Hyperdrive (Detour and Roadhugger have no modern version) Transports have no modern versions Groundshaker (without the ATV), Countdown (only with Omega Supreme), Skyhopper (without helicopter) No Skystalker/Interstellar Shuttle as of yet. Rocket Base is homaged a little with the Botropolis Rescue Mission:
I did cover that. I said: "Sureshot has no modern figure, and Crosshairs has a recolored Cybertronian Ironhide that's close, but I don't think I can include him in comparison to Pointblank."
1990: Micromasters, Action Masters Race Track Patrol: Ground Hog, Roller Force, Motor Head, Barricade (not Decepticon Runner. Just like I say Skyfire and not Jetfire). Hot Rod Patrol: Big Daddy, Trip Up (Greaser and Hubs have no modern version) Military Patrol: Bombshock, Growl (Dropshot and Tracer have no modern version) Unknown Patrol: Windstorm (Daddy-O Redeco), Stingracer (Trip-Up redeco) Astro Squad: Missile Master, Moon Rock Phaser and Blast Master Barrage and Heave have no modern versions Metro Squad: Roadburner, Wheel Blaze (Fireguard) Power Run and Strike Down, and Oiler and Slide have no modern versions Battle Squad: Power Punch, Direct Hit Meltdown and Half-Track, and Fireshot and Vanquish have no modern versions There are no modern Action Masters, but there are a few non-transforming figures of G1 characters that I would not consider Action Masters (i.e. a figure with a transforming targetmaster accessory). A legit re-issue of an Action Master does not have to be non-transforming. Treadshot was released as a redo of Warpath in black. Jackpot (Kingdom) Krok was released as a Titanmaster, but as an alligator, not whatever jet he was originally. Mainframe (released with the Ark, but not in G1 colors) Slicer (SG Wheeljack)
Masterforce Pretenders: Metalhawk (not as a pretender, though) Headmasters: Grand Maximus (2018) Minerva (Legends) The new 2022 is not a headmaster and does not transform into a car of the same model as Nightbeat anymore. Other figures are either covered in prior posts or have no modern versions, such as trainbots (outside Masterpiece). Black Zarak Seacons: Piranacon / King Poseidon (Generation Selects 2020) Overlord (2018) Rather than a powermaster, he has 2 Prime Master little not-heads to attach to the figure. Predaking from Power of the Primes
Transformers: Victory Victory Saber / Victory Leo (HasLab) Brainmasters, Multiforce, Crossformers, Dinoforce, Breastforce - no modern versions Deathsaurus (HasLab) Zone Big Powered (Road Fire, Dai Atlas, Sonic Bomber) Star Convoy This isn't exactly a one-to-one modernization of the original, since it was really just a Micromaster Base. It's more of a "Powermaster Prime"-like version of Star Convoy, with Prime merging into his trailer.
My modernized collection so far: 1984 - Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Jazz, Ironhide, Prime, Starscream, Rumble, Huffer 1985 - Percepter, Sludge, Slag, Blaster/Rewind, Skyfire (Siege Reissue), Jetfire (got the VF-1S reissue); Kickback 1986 - Galvatron, Cyclonus Targetmaster, Scourge, Sweep, Runamuck, Gnaw, Dragstrip (others on preorder); Rodimus Prime, Hot Rod, Blurr, Kup, Arcee 1987 - Cloudraker, Fastlane, Highbrow, Chromedome, Hardhead, Brainstorm; Skullcruncher, Weirdwolf 1988 1989 Japan: Victory Saber/Leo, Deathsaurus (next year) Repaints: Burnout, Crosscut (preorder), Breaker, Lift-Ticket