Please do the same.
I think those stats are good fun, but using them as leverage, especially with the statement that someone is the "second most popular character" which is in no way supported by any of the statistics provided, irks me. And because it slipped past me in the last replay: I want the epilogue hug to remain a hug. I like the hug, the hug is very fitting for Astarion's story - in my opinion.
Made bold for emphasis within the quote. We can split hairs about the difference between character and companion. But that Astarion is the "second most popular companion" is your own fabrication and my general statement was, that it doesn't really matter who's up in some poll. I mean, you can also understand the poll to indicate that Astarion doesn't need any more kisses because his old kiss apparently did well enough on its own. (quipping here)
In general I hate how made up "facts" or polls with no real relevance to them are thrown around in all the Astarion threads to garner sympathy for one's cause by means of giving the illusion of some fact-based necessity for the desired change. As has been written in numerous threads before, Astarion and his romance have gotten a lot of extra treatment in the past, especially if you play as Durge or Karlach, this constant demand for more is not very charming - neither is the underlying sentiment of spite towards other companions or other romance paths which permeates many posts in Astarion related threads.
