In Negatron's defense, Michael Bay does get to pick which stories his name gets attatched to. But something tells me, unfortunately to some, the story isnt really the focus of this movie. This isnt necessarily about the specific journeys each autobot and decepticon go through, its more about introducing the audience to this concept as the humans in the movie are being introduced to it. The story is more about how we experience these robot characters onscreen and get to know them more. and see that there's two factions ..and those two factions are at war..and why. and who's on each side. and see in live action, the closest thing to real life how they function and transform and move and talk and fight. If that makes any sense.
I may be giving this movie too much credit but I dont think an intricate plot is needed for this first film. All franchises get more complex throughout the series. Empire was more complex than A New Hope. They didnt fit the father aspect and Luke and Leia being siblings and Yoda in the first Star Wars. Leave that kind of thing for the second movie after the awe of the effects and spectacle is gone. I guess I'm just Optimist Prime.