Dwarves are usually treated seriously in rpgs. Not one dwarf joinable npc in BG history is treated as a 'joke'. Even Larian dud a decent job with their dwarf npc/origin character in DOS2.
As fir popularity... several things... varric is one of the most popular companions in a popular rpg series.
Also if laruan was going by 'popular', they'd only include the option fir human white male fighter. Afterall, thrur own research shows that as 'most popular' by a mile. Lol
Varric is the best, my favorite Dragon Age companion.
