I agree that the "cleric = heal bot" mindset hurts the chances that a player will play a cleric.
Paladins are popular for RPGs of all stripes, so it's no surprise that the same is true for BG3 players. And you have to realize that most of these players are coming in without Early Access experience. They don't know how hard it is to abide a paladin oath. So, that's not a turn off for them.
Regarding shorties:
Humans and tall, attractive races will always be popular with casuals who are just trying to set up a power fantasy. But it doesn't help that Larian didn't include any short races as companions. That would have encouraged players to choose a short race, especially if that companion were romanceable.
