It is 100% a companion problem when said companion is the only one locked behind an unrewarding path. If Larian had added another 'evil' companion besides Minthara, this wouldn't even be an issue. People need to start accepting the 'evil' path was an afterthought during development. If they add another companion now, this late after release, imagine how half-baked their story is going to be.
Excuse me Astarion and Laezel are a joke to you? These are two evil companions that you get at the start. Halsin and Minthara are additional companions, one evil, the other good. Everything is logical. Don't tell me that Laezel and Astarion are "neutral companions", please. Basic companions are literally two good (Wyll/Kalach), two neutral (Shadow/Gale) and two evil. Just because you don't like them doesn't mean they don't exist.
And by the way, Laezel and Astarion are the only ones who approve attack on the grove, and they are perfect combination with Minthara.
