I've already worked Rock Lords into my continuity, so I guess I can parse these guys as representing the first generation of Cybertronians to land on Quartex, who haven't yet fully adapted.
So it would go Armorizers (Cybertronians wearing armour) -> Rock Lords (built to use native rock as insulation) -> RiD-style Minicons (built with hardened systems and energy shielding).
So it would go Armorizers (Cybertronians wearing armour) -> Rock Lords (built to use native rock as insulation) -> RiD-style Minicons (built with hardened systems and energy shielding).