I'm curious if someone would like to enlighten me as to what defines a RPG. Or are you guys talking about a Bioware RPG? Because that'd be a huge difference, I'm a pretty picky guy when it comes to games. But while being able to create any character you want is a nice a perk it doesn't decide whether a game is going to be good or bad or whether it's worth playing or not. I can't think of there ever being many games where you had as many starting points, (pay attention to starting point) as Origins. And I can think of less that allow you to so heavily customize the character and party to your choosing.
I asked what you're calling a RPG because I'm fairly new to the whole Bioware set up. When I think RPG's the first game that will come to mind for me is Legend of Dragoon which was a PS1 title. You didn't name the characters, you couldn't customize them, it was a turn base RPG. And yet the story was bar none one of the best if not the single best I've ever played.
The question I'd ask you, is what matters more? Being able to create a elf that looks epic and doesn't talk ever. Or Bioware creating a game that delivers a bigger impact story? I'm can't be sure but creating 6 different starting points had to limit what they could do, I'd hope and have by taking dialogue from 8 (female's difference in dialogue and interaction). And turning it to 3, (male, female, and mage). Then they could improve the rest of the game as whole. They might not, but I think a little restriction on creative freedom can be a good thing.