I feel the same way, as the "Cool" designs tend to just blend together and I have a hard time identifying where they're from unless they're truly memorable. More unique designs are a breath of fresh air for me, and I love seeing the creativity behind them. I'm just curious about others' opinions~

That’s pretty much the reason I prefer unique, but sillier, designs too. The “cool” designs just end up looking bland, or like they’re trying too hard to be cool

Both, I guess? Like I love all of Boukenger’s cool designs, but my all-time favorite kaijin is Noodle Dimension from Jetman.

Whatever works for the series, really. So I suppose unique?

Question time. Which non-toku Japanese drama, movie, or anime did you last watch that featured a sentai actor?

As far i saw, no one.

Does Metal Gear count? Champ's actor is Snake

I have seen several from Sentai, Kamen Rider, etc.. The ones that I can list off the top of my head:

Shun Sugata from Engine Sentai Go-onger (and other Toku like Juukou B-Fighter) was in Ichi the Killer, Tokyo Gore Police, Alive, etc. He also show up in some mainstream American Hollywood films too like Kill Bill and The Last Samurai.

Yumi Sugimoto also from Go-Onger (Go-Onger Silver) was in Mutant Girls Squad (Yuko Takayama from Kamen Rider Wizard is also in it)

Taro Ishida (Kentaro Hisatsu in Juken Sentai Gekiranger) is in Violent Cop, Departures, Akira, etc.

That's all I can think of all hand. Kamen Rider actors are more common to see in Japanese live action cinema that I have seen so far.

The actor who played Mega Blue in Megaranger was in an episode of the live-action version of Hell Girl.

IIRC he played a high school student in the episode, hilariously.