The templates they offer are just starting points for players that might need more guidance and/or aren't looking to design their own build from scratch. I think in the beta we'll be able to customize our starting attributes, abilities, talents, and skills (as well as our cosmetic features, obviously).
I think allowing for starting weapon selection is the next obvious step. I may want to choose a Warrior preset and go for a more Barbarian-oriented build where I'm using two one-handed starter swords instead of one one-handed starter sword and a starter shield (I'm not even sure if dual-wielding two swords is possible in Divinity, but hopefully everyone gets the idea).
Or, maybe I want the warrior setup combined with a two-handed starter sword. To do that I would have to:
1) Pick a Knight preset to get a two-handed sword.
2) Change my attribute point allocation to be more in-line with a Warrior.
3) Change my ability point allocation to be more in-line with a Warrior.
4) Change my talent selection to be more in-line with a Warrior.
5) Change my starting skills to be more in-line with a Warrior.
Ultimately, the goal can be achieved. However, it's an unnecessarily long way to go around it when I could just do this instead:
1) Pick a Warrior preset to get the desired point setup.
2) Change my starting weapon selection to a two-handed sword.
