Can we stop comparing the two at this point?

[linayar]

That's why I said I'd prefer a better take (than, just say, Sylv/Saur, Alders/Scryers, which of the four covenants to go with, etc.). But the XIV alternative is literally no choice at all, or the difference between a nod of affirmation and a sarcastic nod of affirmation.

I prefer that as a soldier I can come to a given plotline with a different history, different preferences, etc., and act upon them. There's less of that than I'd like, and less well executed upon, but at least WoW gives that a genuine try.

Yes, it does necessarily mean that some content is seen only on a second pass, but used well and sparingly I prefer that to pure linearity.

I prefer the opposite. If both choices ended up being the same, then spare me the hassle of thinking hard of which choice to make only to not have the payoff that I wanted in making that choice and just give me an inconsequential but potentially humorous dialog option instead.

Being "cheated" of my choice is worse to me than not having to make a choice.