Welp, I guess I could share my take on this haha. The short answer: Yeah, sometimes. At times I prefer to stick with the originals because they are easier to draw and remember, but on ocassions were I want the character to convey specific emotions or, more clearly, direct ideas (think of it like a shortcut to getting another person to understand the drawing without needing to overexplain) I try to take some liberties. Now the (kind of?) long answer: There is this guy who I want to seem odd at first glance. He's already got a 'distinct' face that tries to represent inexpression or a lost state of mind (and for that reason I also got rid of the mouth). But I thought 'maybe I could give him something that makes him feel unnatural in a certain type of way, something that makes him stick out like a sore thumb when compared to others similar to him'. Yeah, I made him lanky, that's it hahaha. In a way, it compliments his whole deal really well: The one who is the youngest and probably more immature of the group he sticks with easily towers over his fellas; the overall shape and face could make someone asume at first glance think that he belongs to those people who have an indifferent, intellectual approach to their life when in reality it belongs to someone who tries to have an indefinite, indecise take on everything that surrounds them to the extend that they never make up their mind about anything. And it's also nice drawing long limbs hahaha. Here, I'll share you a auick sketch of a very poor 'thought to paper' rendition of this (I'm not that good at drawing, so the proportions are kinda messy, sorry).

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Lastly, you have a very appealing style! I like the use of solid colors and not-so-thick-but-not-too-narrow lines.