IMHO, Minthara shouldn't be an exclusive companion. I would understand if Kagha (even then she's pretty redeemable) and Halsin were, depending on Grove
Shadow druid conspiracy quest
resolution, though in the Act 2
you still get whole 2 druid companions
in goody-two-shoes walkthrough.
Minthara, however, is the only Drow and the only PALADIN companion in the entire game. Were you to join Goblin raid it permanently removes 3 companions - Halsin, Wyll and Karlach - with the 4th - Gale - potentially leaving you unless successfully persuaded. Price is too steep, and considering the fact she's not just a fellow tadpole victim, but also a brainwashed one in Act 1 - it feels all kinds of wrong for good-aligned character to blatantly murder her in cold blood. Especially since from Act 2 it is discovered that she was forced to join the Absolute and do her bidding.
Real Minthara has serious grievances against both Lolth and Absolute, had no desire to murder tieflings as they posed no threat to her as well as her story arc is pretty much about redeeming herself, growing as a person and,
judging by datamining, starting a family
. All potential for turning into, if not good, at very least, neutral-aligned character, which I'd say is quite suitable for Good guy Tav walkthrough. It feels wrong being forced into an evil walkthrough to get a well-written companion who isn't even purely evil, but a misguided victim of brainwashing,
that left worshipping Lolth (due to all the loss and pain wrought upon her and other bs) prior to being recruited Absolute's servitude by Orin against her will
.
Halsin is, though, good guy through and through, no moral dilemmas or relationship dynamics. Minthara is more akin to Morrigan from Dragon Age Origins, while Halsin would make a somewhat smarter, wiser Alistair if there was any dynamic between these two. I'd pay good money to see them actually be forced to work together and interact.
Why not just eliminate most of Goblin leaders at the camp? It's not like the rest are loyal to her. They're undisciplined savages that have no discipline. Why not defeat the Goblin raid on the Grove and force her to retreat? Anything to force her to escape empty-hnded to Moonrise Towers/be imprisoned at the Grove along with Sazza (who is oddly lies dead even if you persuade tieflings against shooting her, but still don't release her)? You can easily persuade Nere at Underdark that Absolute is a sham with your words alone, yet can't do the same with Minthara even with the Prism in your pocket? Really? You literally do that to
in Act 3 and it works like a charm.
Plus, let's not forget Liriel Baenre, a good-aligned member of Minthara's House back in Menzoberranzan, who escaped it, found a new purpose on the surface, fell in love with a human. If anything, in good Tav walthrough, Minthara could pretty much go the same way. Especially if Tav is a fellow Drow. They can be hailed as heroes of the Baldur's Gate. Why not start something together there?