First impressions are the most important for me.
I do not want to be told, "wait wait 20 hours in he will be GREAT!"
The first impressions I get from nearly ALL BG3's companions are bad. I did not play the game past 3 hours, not to spoil myself, but thats my limit to judge such a thing.
Having more companion options would of been great, but oh well we are stuck with this lot.
Unfortunaly, unlike past Baldurs gate games, mods cannot change that fact.
Fair enough. I myself was more lucky since I found some of them more ..pleasant. But I heard that Shadowheart hat a more rude introduction before I joined EA. I personally find Gale highly dislikeable, don't like his tendency to assume he is the smartest in the room, but I the teeth-clenched teamwork dynamic works with him - for myself.