What the hell are you talking about. Roger said Imai wanted it to be TLEAD and that episode is basically where they introduce the two other Legioss fighters. Even Jim points out how the TLEAD and combined with the Legioss to form a sweet fighter. That whole bit was just them advertising the new models.
Ley, Ray, and Rei are all phonetically the same though. Even Blowsperior is enough like Borough Superior. Stick just doesn't become Stig. Unless the ten ten were dropped from every single instance of his name for some reason.
I think you guys are giving the show too much credit. The gang's uncanny ability to drag no less than four fully functional airplanes wherever they go makes the whole transforming airplane addition a bit daft in retrospect. I recall Ginrai has this translated interview with Aramaki where he said the Legiosses were supposed to be more "disposable" and that they would basically find them and use them during their journey. That makes a little more sense than the gang being able to transport their planes down the river on giant log rafts. That show was crazy silly.
I've been looking to do some more Manga and comic book stuff. I'd be down for a show about the Marvel Transformers comics.
Oh that Doug Bendo. He's such a lovable racist apeface.
I think you're worrying too much. Even Alto had a cell phone and that didn't solve his problems. Hikaru could just one of those jerks who never answers his phone and has a dumb ringtone.