I'm not as hardcore lore-player as some, but I do like to keep the first class of the Companions, even if makes my powergamingminmaxing heart bleed
Not always and not with all Companions, but most of the time ...
IMO I've simply been conditioned by Bg1/2 to view Companions as what-you-get-is-what-you-have, not necessarily "perfect" assets.
Reminds me of that female "Miss Anger Issues" Fighter in Bg1 with CON 9.