I don't get why anyone would get so teary-eyed over Bay's rustbuckets.

They have no real characterization. Most people just love them because they represent characters from their childhood. I think the only robot I felt sorry for was Bumblebee and only because Shia LaBitch abused him so much.

So I get where you're coming from (given that the comics make a little more sense than the movies and actually care for their characters).