It's not just the XP, you also lose out on a meaningful resolution to the first Act, with a nice camp scene and that satisfying pause before the next leg of the journey. So basically giving up a pretty good chunk of the story there, along with the romance option for Minthara.

I feel like taking the steps outlined above would have been a cool route to recruiting Kagha though! hehe

Instead of a fun party with the Tiefs, or roasting Dwarf with the Goblins, maybe she appears for a whole separate Shadowdruid resolution to the first Act, complete with creepy viper rituals. Perhaps some nods to how we distracted Halsin and so deftly orchestrated a big battle between the Tiefs and Goblins at the gate. You know by going with flow and winding our way to the finish line all the same. Obviously buying her enough time to complete the Rite of Thorns and get rid of anyone who might challenge her promotion to Arch Druid, which was her main objective right? Later, after we find out that Minthara somehow survived, perhaps it comes up again in conversation. Minthara can't let it go, Kagha barks back and they argue about periodically it to keep things lively. Sometimes we have to put them both in check with persuasion, or intimidation, or various sticks and carrots. I'd trade Halsin and any 3 Tiefs for Minthara probably, but all of em? I mean they do get replaced with Flaming Fist characters I guess, so you still get something, but it doesn't feel like parity.

Anyway, what people want I think, or what I want at least, is mainly more options on the party comps. If we had like 3 or 4 Mintharas to choose from, then it wouldn't seem as rough if there are going to be hard locks that come early, but we only got the 1 Minthara here. I just keep imaging all the great banter that we'll never get because too many of the companions aren't set up to be cross compatible along a given path. If the companions are like totally grating against each other, always working at cross purposes, that's a gold mine for material. Look how great the Lae'zel vs Shadowheart stuff is! I mean that's what it's all about right there, that's the good stuff that keeps one coming back and trying all the various combinations.