Why did Dr. Gero use a human base?

[Strife1]

Spoiler:

Obviously C-16 was more powerful than C-17 and C-18. Why did Gero use the infinite energy type with human dna? He could've done the same with regular robots instead of creating Cyborgs. It could've been materials, but he did create C-19, so who knows. And was C-16's defect that he was too gentle? He wanted to kill Goku, so I don't see why he was 'unfit' to be activated.

[Polyphase Avatron]

It was probably to do with Cell, Cell needed to absorb 17 and 18 to reach his full power, but absorbing pure machines wouldn't work.

[Strife1]

It was probably to do with Cell, Cell needed to absorb 17 and 18 to reach his full power, but absorbing pure machines wouldn't work.

Yeah, that does make sense. Completely forgot about Cell. Thank you.

[Herms]

When 17 learns that 16 was built from scratch, he does pause and wonder why Gero would bother going back to the "old" method of making human-based androids. And...we never get an explanation. But I guess "he needed to make some that Cell could eat" makes as much sense as anything.

[rereboy]

In that title page where it explains all the androids, it specifically says that Gero considered every android before #19 a failure for one reason or another. That implies that he was constantly experimenting and going back and forth until he was satisfied with an android. That explains why he would be inconsistent in regards to the base of his androids. When he created #16, and after realizing what he didn't like about him, he tried human bases for #17 and #18. Those still didn't satisfy him, so he when back to a totally artificial one and tried something else that he hadn't tried yet. And finally he was satisfied.

[TTC817]

Because Toriyama hadn't invented the "unlimited power" Androids yet. Originally he was only going to have 19 and 20 as the androids in the series, I believe his editor wanted him to make younger, more interesting characters.