Just to be contrary, I actually liked the fact that Gale and Shadowheart look to be "normal" people caught up in the tide of the story. Not that a Cleric of Shar and a Wizard are necessarily that normal, even in the FR. The fact that the characters don't look or sound outrageous actually endears them to me, and these characters are more likely to be in my initial party than a Gith or a Warlock, while Astarion has no chance of being allowed anywhere near my camp.
Which just shows how difficult it is to satisfy everyone's fantasy.
