Theres probably a mandate to make the short races appear noticeably alien rather than just look like small humans.
Bear sex is one thing but if you had halflings that are say dnd movie style, just scaled down humans, you open a whole other can of worms. Though I suppose they could just block romances for short races instead.
Not that again. We had that in BG 1&2 and I hated it. Gnomes have normal proportions, so I don't know, why it shouldn't be possible for halflings. And no, the don't look like children at all , just because they are smaller.
And yes, my bard ( wether halfling or gnome) will happily romance Karlach.
