I'd have been inclined to play a Hrothgar if they were closer to the Ronso of FFX in terms of their design. I'd also settle for them being inspired by Byakko's design, especially in terms of facial features.

I also do not think that it is a controversial point to consider a playable race to be a selling point of an expansion. Especially when there's a long history of MMO's advertising them as just that.