I think they could have done it where we can respec back down to lvl 1, but without being able to change say background or attributes, or at least on higher difficulty settings they could have priced that in a bit more. Increases the likelihood of multi-classes over respecs I would think, if it was more costly. It could just be another thing that scaled with character level, to make it somewhat less attractive the further along we are in the campaign, but without totally closing off the option to retool whatever character down to the roots. I don't know, but if it costs 1000 GP instead of 100 that might make a difference. Or there could be limits on respecs down to the level when the character was first recruited, basically by chapter BG1 style. So allowing a bit more flexibility for the characters that come into things earlier on, but also some room for more fully formed characters to emerge in later acts.
So for example say Minsc is a lvl 10 recruit. He might have a couple feats or perhaps a multiclass angle when he first arrives. If one wanted to do the Berserker/Ranger concept I mean. Maybe he's actually got one of those 3/7 multi-class splits ready to roll. The player gets a nice power up by selecting feats for a lvl 4/8 finish to give him some flavor that way. Maybe not the strongest combo but a feat for each level in the finale is kinda fun. Probably Wizards wouldn't sign off on making him multi-class canonically, but if not that then I think maybe via itemization he should just have some Martial or Berserk style abilities added into his Ranger package via Boo.
Maybe he has the OP Tavern Brawler feat sorta baked-in too, with a goofy throw attack called "Flying Boo"
Or maybe a Longsword called the "Boo-merang" that returns when thrown? I could see that lol
As a Minsc power fantasy, they could use the STR bonus +1 from Boo, and the STR bonus +1 from Tavern Brawler feat to set him up with a 19 upon recruitment? Would probably hit some kinda sweet spot between 18/93 in the old scheme and 20 in the new one.
Then he could be the crazy Tavern Brawling Ranger with berserk flare we all know he was meant to be, or the player could just nix that whole idea and rework him completely for some slightly higher cost in gold. Might be fun. They could do the same for Jaheira and Minthara or Halsin, to give those characters more of a package. I don't think Jaheira really needs any help, but Minthara, Halsin and Minsc all come on the scene pretty late. For someone who's less familiar the levelling up process is probably also a bit of a challenge unto itself, so having a standard default with the stat blocks and spells and all the rest already laid out would probably be a convenience for many players. Minthara is fine if you just keep clicking the spacebar when levelling, but for the Druids you got spells to sort, so I could see a reason to give them starting blocks ready to go. For others it might just add to the challenge, like how to transform the character from the defaults in a no respec run with a bit more to lean into on that. Allowing the player to optimize as they go to rework a character around the equipment we pick up along the way makes it attractive to retool the characters for whatever situation, but then we lose out a bit on the Custom character or the hirelings feelings somehow special by comparison, since all the companions can be switched around to optimize. Being able to say adjust Shadowheart's default Domain removes the incentive to try playing as a Cleric yourself. Or similarly if you can rework Jaheira to be a Spore druid or whatever. I do feel like Minsc comes on board so late that he doesn't really have room to shine, regardless of what class we chose for him or how we try to outfit him into the crew. I feel like he needs a bit more gusto somehow, like starting with the STR boost hehe.
