I think there is an expectations problem. Larian is building a game based on pre-defined story, characters, and has various project goals and milestones already outlined. The Early Access is designed to help Larian give customers a taste of the product they are making, identify bugs, and get feedback/suggestions on things not working well. However, feedback does not mean we are shaping the game. Some feedback will get incorporated while others will not. It all depends on what Larian developers can squeeze into their schedule, what is critical, and what is feasible.
We can say "Dice rolls are a little off or too unforgiving, which is killing the enjoyment factor for some players." Larian responded by adding the Loaded Dice option to the game. However, a few EA players have expressed an interest in the tiefling bard Alfira being a companion. Larian is under no obligation to respond to making her a companion. Even revealing whether Alfira is or is not a later companion could be considered a spoiler. Data miners have already spoiled two companions who will join our party sometime after the EA period. There is also the question of what feedback can even be added without derailing the project.
For example, let's say there is huge EA player uproar to make Alfira a companion. The developers would need to adjust party banter, conversation interrupts, build extra side quests around her, determine approval/disproval choices, re-test party balancing when she is not at camp, and finally bring back the voice actress to record extra dialog not originally budgeted to the project. That work might make Alfira as a companion a good DLC option for later development. However, taking time to heed player demand for such change could easily derail efforts to get the game out sometime in 2022. Would it be cool to have a bard companion in the mix, sure. Do I want that companion if it means delaying game release until 2023 or beyond, no.
