I am surprised this is a contentious topic. I expected to pick four characters at the beginning and then stick with them till the end, as they would all be gaining experience through the course of the game and to switch to somebody else would be to lose that experience. In table top D&D people wouldn't suddenly start having a different character for similar reasons.
I get why people might be upset, it has become a convention in party based RPGs that you can collect and swap out companions at base / camp.
I actually prefer what Larian are doing. I hated that in games like Dragon Age where I would have to ignore that half of my party is just putzing around at any given moment.
“Okay everyone, us four are going into the Deep Roads now, surely risking life and limb. Oh no no no, don’t get up. You five stay here and watch the camp. Don’t worry on our account.â€
