private void checkSorted(Table newTable) throws MetaException {
    if(!TxnUtils.isAcidTable(newTable)) {
      return;
    }
    StorageDescriptor sd = newTable.getSd();
    if (sd.getSortCols() != null && sd.getSortCols().size() > 0) {
      throw new MetaException("Table " + Warehouse.getQualifiedName(newTable)
        + " cannot support full ACID functionality since it is sorted.");
    }
  }
once a table is marked transactional, you cannot go back.  Enforce this.
Also in current version, 'transactional_properties' of the table cannot be altered after
the table is created. Any attempt to alter it will throw a MetaException.
standalone-metastore/metastore-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hive/metastore/TransactionalValidationListener.java