I think that compels me about Sandstorm/Octane, is the feeling that Sandstorm in G1 is aware of how terrible Octane is when he saves him and then they go on a date to that diner. He knows that he did try to take over the Decepticons with Trypticon to overthrow Galvatron. He laughs like any old thing when Octane threatens the Skuxxoid. But still vows to protect him. It's not a situation of "we are not compatible morally anymore" like Skyfire and Starscream which breaks them apart. Sandstorm is aware, it's not just words, he does try to save Octane even if he's shot down.
It gets more layers when you put into consideration that Sandstorm had his home (Paradron) destroyed because of the Decepticons and Autobots fighting, where it was the Autobot's decision to blow it up to stop the Decepticons of using it as a planet destroyer.
The fact we have Octane and Sandstorm just hanging out as a Decepticon and Autobot (even if it's less 5 minutes of run time) with no manipulation involved (like we see with the Constructicons with Grapple and Starscream with Red Alert) is an oddity. And the thing is, Octane is shown to be manipulative - we see it in the episode (that's bad and made Casey Kasem quit) with Trypticon, with his words to influence Trypticon to leave Dinobot Island and saying everything is healthier here, coddling and caring for him. Changing the dates of recovery time from one more week to six months. Sure, he gets upset on Trypticon's behalf being worried for them starving before 'we'll both starve' but it doesn't change the fact he pushed them to that situation to begin with.
But with Sandstorm, we don't really see that.
Then Wings comes along and shows Octane outright admits the only reason he's there fighting, is for his 'buddy' Sandstorm. It's a mutual feeling, if you choose to believe. Octane is manipulative, scummy, and a coward. But he still risks himself anyway.
... And they never interact anywhere else again because we flew too close to the sun with gay robots in G1 Season 3, but if you are absolutely delusional (like me) you start to see the potential everywhere. Like, you're aware of their respective character development in IDW1 so you want to see it all the more if they met each other and long for Energon Universe to bring them back since it's leaning in with the G1 Nostalgia anyway...