Also PLEASE keep to workaround to have 4 custom characters. Its annoying that you have to do this way but at least it gives us an option to have a full custom party.
Instead of a workaround, we should get a more easy solution to create additional custom characters

Oh yeah, its not the best option but at least that works for me and gives me everything that I wanted. Well except ask them to stay at camp/rejoin like with the origin characters, haha.
but yeah a better way would be nice: ideally right at the start in new game so you can have your full custom party right at the beginning.
When you start a new game, theres the + + + + option (currently only used to invite friends). It could be used to add more custom characters for yourself or invite friends. I would prefer that way over hirelings just because I can have them at the beginning +tadpole.
or another option would be to create your own hirelings but this time fully like in the character creation, add a tadpole option (check/uncheck) for those who wants it or not.