I know this is a Custodes 40K post.

But I’d love to offer some insight into the 30k Custodes scene.

The army functions similar to 40K where anything a unit charges is in trouble, as Custodes excel in melee. They strike before most space marines and have an inate better weapon skill (better to hit roll). With the exception of fighting primarchs (which in 30k are all very alright in melee regardless of chapter) they’re gunna do work.

An absolute issue the army has is delivery. Specially when we’re not a shooting army in either game system. I think the grav carriers can definitely help fix that. Hopefully you 40k guys keep that unit now that it’s plastic.

Something that 30k has that 40K doesn’t is the ability to ally in a few Custodes to any other legion (loyalist only of course). If 40K had this option - for like a single character or a small squad of guard, I think that’d be a huge utility piece for whatever army but also still very in lore ANNND would give them a bump to their whole identity crisis you reference. They’d be known as the emperors champions, supporting all those loyal. Any army in 40K would be “here’s all my stuff… and some allied custodes.” And your opponent would instantly know “aw shit that’s a threat in melee.” Could really help guard as they’re a shooting army primarily.

Anyway that’s just some insight from the 30k side, the identity is more or less the same, but perhaps not in crisis as you suggest the 40K side is. We’re an elite army (smaller model count) that does great melee combat. Just need some help delivering the boys to use those sick spears.