All they really need to do is put in a nice system for hiring generic companions like ing DOS2 (lizard lady on the boat after the first act). With the option to hire mercenaries, you could just replace whatever roles you lose to choices (if you side with the Gobbos)
I think Larian has mentioned including the ability to hire generic characters, so this seems like a possibility. I can also see how updating stats can be useful if a concept doesn't work out, but I do try to avoid min/maxing whenever possible. I also tend to have ideas ahead of time and automatically sell items that are "useless", then may realize I need to change something and it's not useless after all, so this was a bit of a personal preference, lol.
Despite its potential to ruin immersion, it's just too big of a "campaign saving" tool not to include. RPG games are a huge time commitment. There are so many people new to 5E D&D - the system and the classes - and there are going to be many people who make mistakes in their builds, or choose a class thinking it sounds amazing and regretting it when it comes to play.
There's a reason why even Kingmaker eventually added this feature in. It's almost an expected feature in an RPG at this day and age.
I agree, this has become VERY common nowadays. I don't think it's a bad thing though, since it does provide more accessibility. Any of the examples I have seen that have this feature and actually have a defined class system (Dragon Age Inquisition, both Pillars of Eternity games) have never allowed you to change your class though, so that was part of the reason I was against it. Again, mostly a personal decision, so if it does end up implemented, I will probably just not use it.
