So true... I would have gladly traded in Sebastian altogether for just a DLC where we could've romanced Varric instead. xP
I kinda like Sebastian in away, in was nice to have a religious perspective in the group, considering how much of an impact religion has on the people of Thedas. Without him everyone could have been assumed to be pretty safely agnostic, and even the Templar's wife, Aveline, showed some pretty anti-religious tendencies.
I agree, if Varric wasn't gated he'd be extremely popular, even to the entire general fanbase. You can totally tell looking at those comments on their facebook posts.
Cheers, I'm positive that Varric will always be popular no matter what he really is pretty damn awesome, but to be fair to the other characters, the facebook fanbase isn't as hardcore as the fanbase on BSN. They don't know these new companions like we do, but they do know Varric. Creates a bit of a bias, the may end up adoring some of the other companions once they get to know them
. Not that I don't suspect that Varric will remain a very popular character even after the game releases, his brand of awesome isn't easily overshadowed.