Failing at basic reading? You can't evolve when it's burned..
When it has to turn a certain way because of a condition (i.e. Sleep/Confusion/Paralysis) it doesn't work.
Incorrect. thepliskin5005 has it right. All Pokemon Powers are under errata that the phrase "This power stops working while... Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed" is instead to be read as "This power stops working while... is affected by a Special Condition." This errata only applies to pokemon powers that say they would be turned off. Ones that specifically say they stay on when affected by the three now say they stay on when affected by any SC.
Archeops Ancient Power. It actually functions more like the Primal Aura and Primal Stare from Kabutops and Omastar in Skyridge than it does Aerodactyl from Fossil in that the mechanisms are different. Rare Candy gets around Prehistoric Power but it never got around the Primal Aura/Stare. So, the real similarities we are comparing here is a stage 1 evolving from a fossil that blocks evolution from the bench.
Both weak to grass, both have 2 retreat. Aerodactyl was never known for exceptional HP, it always lacked in that department even in its ex form years ago. The fossils from Fossil were really punished. Aerodactyl has -30 resistance to :fighting:, which is important because at the time this card was made, this means that it did not take any self-damage from Confusion. Kind of a mute point because if you were attacking with Aerodactyl you were missing the point of the card.
To bring Aerodactyl into play, at first there was Mysterious Fossil. Mysterious Fossil saw a lot of change in--and out of--its lifetime. Its 10HP was beefed up to 50HP in Sandstorm. In DP, fossils counted as KOed pokemon when they were KOed by an attack, but you could still discard them without the cost of a prize. During times when Mysterious Fossil wasn't around--it was out being all mysterious--Buried Fossil and stadium cards would help get it into play.
For Archeops, you have to use a Fossil trainer card to search for the stage 1. At the time I am writing this, trainer lock is huge. If you can get the Archen into play before T3, you have a chance to really mess up your opponent. If not, you may never get Archeops into play at all. Future fossil themes may make it more playable. It may be in vein though because, if the past is any indication, we should expect t/s/s that allow evolution from the deck at some point during Archeops lifetime in Modified.
Nowadays, anything that bench snipes will render an Aerodactyl a non-issue, so Archeops is the better play. Speed-wise, Aerodactly will come into play first, especially with cards like Fast Ball to look for it.
Which is better? Think about this: Aerodactyl is bigger and almost twice the weight of an Archeops. If the "First Bird Pokemon" doesn't want to fall to natural selection, it won't be picking on an Aerodactyl.