Great comments as usual @sozz and @nicotttia !

RoseL - you are partially right part of the dislike comes from the feeling of disempowerment. For me it's mostly feeling disempowered at the end: my actions didn't matter. Someone has to become illithid.

But I do love to hate this villain. I would like to see the "distrustful relationship with Guardian" path fleshed out, the dialogues for the Tav who resents being lied to and manipulated improved and an option to complete the game without a mind flayer.