morning Dieb!
I always face a dilemma when it comes to recruiting tamplars or mages. I prefer Cullen's quest chain of tracking Samson and his armour, and prefer having mages on my side HOWEVER I love the templar recruitment quest and the way choosing them introduces Cole and Dorian, both amazing first time meets for companions (if you don't go to Recliffe at all until after recruiting templars anyway)
Yeah, it really is a tricky one.
But I personally find Calpernia a great character (and the option to redeem her), and I like the Venatori as enemies, because they are less Cerbereapers than the Red Templars.
Mostly it really is because I like having Cole along in my group, and while Dorian "works" by just helping and proving himself, my grumpydog Inquisitor would never agree to take such a creature, if he isn't forced to learn he can trust him.