I would guess this decision is due to Larian putting a lot of time and effort (+$) into making the origin characters and they want people to experience them.
That is my guess as well, or at least it was until I
watched Shadowheart slice La'zael's throat and stab her in the heart
. That happened just shortly after leveling up to level 4, and before we've even defeated all the goblins and their masters in Act One. If you spent countless hours on custom voiced dialogue for a companion, only to input a cinematic scenario that carries the possibility of them dying before the story has even really started, it shows a lack of respect for all of your own hard work. If there are codified scenarios where companions can be killed
at camp(!), let alone while adventuring, programmer/voice actor effort doesn't seem to actually be a huge priority.
100% agree, the hireling system is a dumpster fire. If you, Larian, yourselves don't care whether or not the companions die, just let me build a hireling from the ground up like the Pathfinder games do. Generic Half-elf (Wood elf) fighter girl ain't cutting the mustard.
