I just think the companions you get will have their own stories, just like the companions from D:OS (Maderra and Johan? I seriously can't remember their names because they were so inconsequential). I very much doubt they are going to force multi-player down our throats. I also think the people you will play with in MP will be able to make their own characters. AI companions can be programmed to leave at one point to do their own thing if they want, or you don't want to help them, and then come back. After that it would be interesting to find out what they did. It's not like companions with their own interests have never been done in an RPG ever. Maybe you won't get to do competitive questing with them, but so what? Multiplayer should offer something unique that can only be done with people. Otherwise what's the point of a tacked on multiplayer? *cough* ME3 and DA:I *cough*. Though they could leave and then try to stop you from doing whatever you want to do that is against their wishes, or join up with a group that is against you etc. The possibilities are endless (Beethoven has said that art is infinite after all). They just have to be creative about it.