I think the idea is that others can see your race and class at one. This one throws a fireball so it's likely a mage and that has a huge weapon and heavy armor so it's likely a fighter.
When you see a dwarf fighter you do not know if he was a criminal or an acolyte before.
I think about the following (hypothetical) complain of a player:
OK, so I selected noble background, I am a baron and I have a servant. But the game gives my dwarven baron a male dwarven servant. I want a female halfling servant and I want to enter her name and look.
Prof. Dr. Dr. Mad S. Tist
World leading expert of artificial stupidity.
Because there are too many people who work on artificial intelligence already
