Client-side character creation in multiplayer: When last I checked, a single player creates the entire party, and then the other player inhabits the spare. Creating an MMO-esque experience requires that players be able to design their own character before jumping into a multiplayer environment.
Both players can create and modify their characters at the same time, i.e. player #1 creates a new game and starts character creation; player #1 joins. The game starts when both have clicked on "Accept".
What's really missing is a way to export your creations and later import them for other games, basically like it was done in Baldur's Gate etc. In Icewind Dale it was even possible, IIRC, to import your own character at any point in the game when loading a savegame.
Otherwise, good ideas. I hope they'll be considered at some point.
