I actually like this figure. I like it a lot.
I mean... you look at it and say "Why yes! That sure is Soundwave!" and isn't that what we want.
He's so much nicer than that ugly movie thing. Hell... he's more Soundwave than that Transformers Prime movie-ish character too.
No doubt Takara will do some kind of Soundblaster repaint. The mold would definitely look nice in black and grey.
Maybe Perfect Effect or one of those other secondary market groups could do some simple Buzzsaw/Laserbeak minifigures that could chill on his shoulder.
I LOVE this Soundwave. He's on my desk at work with the Ravage cassette from the Classics Hound pack. He is beautious.