So instead of normally having 4 controllable characters and also having to balance for up to 8, you want to have 8 controllable characters, and also having to balance for 4 (because the 4 pets are optional and could die or possibly be left behind.
I don't really see this making it any easier to balance, and I don't like the idea of FORCING a pet on every character.
Well the idea of a bonus for getting rid of the pet when you don't want to play with them was somehow akin to the Lone Wolf talent from DOS1, meaning in the end you'd still balance your game for 8.
No, getting rid of them is Dr Koin's idea, not mine. Obviously not going with your pets into combat is like going with 2 out of 4 people in D:OS into combat; generally a bad idea, but if you want, no-one stops you. Just expect to have a more difficult time due to it.
If they die, that's your problem, the game doesn't shouldn't go easier on you because of it.
What Stabbey and I meant is that we don't like the idea of being forced to use pets. I just proposed a way to have both parties satisfied - players wanting to use pets vs players not wanting anything to do with them. And well, when we did our DOS1 playthrough with my coop partner, we DID go into combat with 2 out of 4 characters : we just had two Lone Wolves characters.