I can't judge how in-character or out-of-character Prowl is, since, as others have mentioned, he isn't very well represented in-show. I will say, however, that the idea of solving manning problems with longer shifts and less people is one that usually occurs to bean-counters and budgeters, not those with actual relevant experience. Those who are actually out there with the troops, the sailors, the whatevers tend to know from experience that this becomes a recipe for more and greater mistakes (people get tired and bored, start paying less attention, are simply unable to pay more attention due to exhaustion, and so forth).

Certainly, the most "efficient" way to handle watches is to get everyone on a set schedule that they know and are familiar with, and not dick with it. Changing rotations every few weeks or months increases the odds of someone not realizing they're up next and showing up late for something. This all has nothing to do with whether or not you made Prowl too much of an ass... just observations on the subject of watch rotation.

Specific comments:

Jazz glanced over his shoulder and noticed Prime appeared to have started up a new project on a sub-screen, at which he was studying very industriously.

I quite like the not-so-subtle, "I am so not getting involved here," move by Prime.

"Build a dentin' radio tower?" Blaster suggested, visibly irate now.
"Blaster, how many times -" Prowl started.
"'Cause the humans don't want us building nothing," Jazz interrupted, mostly because he could say it in a third of the words Prowl was going to use

I would suggest human contractors as solution (as humans always like making more money, and if it's humans building it, it gives the government more ability to peek in and make sure nothing screwy's being done), but that begs the question of how they'd pay them.