Quote Originally Posted by Mutemutt View Post
Though, apparently in this case, it didn't make it past concept. They thought about it, and then went with something else. And I don't think concept art that ancient is really that relevant anyway. They've even showed us more concept of viera for this upcoming expansion -- there were only females though.
If we're going down the "ancient" route, the interview is even older and less relevant, particularly since unlike the art, next to no one knew about it, and it predated it. The art, meanwhile, has been widely circulated. It is not unreasonable for people to base expectations on it when it was originally brought about when the race's introduction was first contemplated. Yes, it did not make it past the concept stage - at that point. Naturally, it would go through further iterations - again, something you would expect. What was not expected, for reasons articulated already, was that they would just drop the males, when they already had something in mind for them.

The concept art shown at the EU Fanfest would be consistent with the notion that they were saving the males as a surprise for JP Fanfest. Only after JP Fanfest did the decision to make them female only actually come out.

We're going in circles on this and I don't really see anything being brought to the table which is going to change my mind on the matter. Obscure interviews, unreliable leaks and allusions to lore that did not suffice to invoke gender-locks on other occasions is really not clear communication.