You may not like Elminster's design, and he may have old-school wizard aesthetics, but he is not "generic". If you see a pic of Elminster, you know instantly who it is. We don't mix him up with Gandalf. We don't think it's just some random wizard. They don't have to label the picture as "Elminster" so we aren't confused.
I don't know, to me he looked like every Gandalf look-a-like. That said I don't know Elminster outside BG1&2, but the only thing which stuck in my mind that he is essencially Gandalf knock-off.
Which leads me: you recognise Elminster design because you know who he is. BG companions were generic. You can even pick their portraits and their portraits will change! But you remember and recognise them because you got to know and like them as characters. Outside Haer'Dalis I don't think a single companion in BG stood out to me on look alone. I agree that they could look more "cool" but that's not what makes a good companion.
