Have you guys considered that the Illithids are only kidnapping people for the absolute who are special? I don't know how much on this as been mined, but I won't mind as much every origin character being 'special', if it fits in with the machinations of the Mind-Flayers and the cult of the Absolute. Of course if that would also make a custom character's lackluster background a bit more incongruous.
I don't know you can argue that makes it good writing though. You're still making a cake entirely out of icing. One Mary Sue stretches the bounds of fantasy I'm not sure how a story can handle 8+ of them.
