What I need in an RPG is not efficiency, but authentic things.
Races have advantages and disadvantages, be it directly in the abilities, or then in the game as e.g. hated race, or as appreciated race, that can also change a bit depending on the locality.
I care less about balance and more about flavor.
The more differences between the races, the better.
MY PEOPLE
This is something I hate about a lot of modern RPGs, the homogenize the various races and even classes. Look at what has been done to MMOs to see what I mean. The distinctions are what gave the races and classes flavor.
