Ratchet is one of the 5 Autobots in the original movie!

Skids and Mudflap were taken out

Que, for sure. You hardly know he's even there until Barricade executes him. Meanwhile, Ratchet actually got to do shit like accompanying Optimus to Chernobyl and the moon and helping to destroy the control pillar. He also ordered the NEST soldiers to block the bridges.