I think this is generally meaningless to discuss such numbers, but just because it's 1.6% of adults in the USA, it doesn't mean his statement is wrong. If you think worldwide, in case it's only 1.6% even in the US, you might actually get close proving him correct if you take worldwide numbers (he said population, not population in the USA). But it doesn't matter, they could still offer those options. Not many people enjoy playing haflings or gnomes and still great to have those in the game. And if he was someone who wanted to play as a gnome he'd likely appreciate the devs giving him that option. One of the things this game does really well is that it generally tries to provide options of possibilities.
Generally, it looks like the OP is an older guy like me, who has to cope with games basically not being made specifically for our tastes anymore. And if you don't like DnD 5, there are probably just better games out there for you. And if you don't like druids, they are even in ADnD (2nd edd), so "shrug".
I personally also think it's unnecessary to have elves with those features, elves aren't humans and already have established subraces in the Forgotten Realms. Half-elves would make much more sense. I think it makes elves less special to do so, because it "humanizes" them. Same is true how they mostly behave as humans in the game. It's not only the looks.
On the other hand, for other people, they had exactly the same problem the OP and I have now, in the past - they might never have had an elf face option they felt good taking. Previously games didn't really care about them, now they don't only cater to someone like myself anymore, so compromises have to be made. That's fine in the end. I don't think Larian was forced to "comply with diversity requirements" (by whom exactly?), to me it looks much more like they themselves just think it's good to do so.
I'm much more annoyed that there isn't actually one really good male elf option at all. But then, it's all not that important in comparison to all the things the game does do really well (for me at least).
