New hrothgar hairstyles are really bad.

[Iscah]

to be fair i remember a lot of "we want more hair!" but not actually really specifying which ones. the ones they gave (2b, 9s, snow/lightning, controlled chaos, the ponytail and the one emmanelain uses) are probably the most popular

I've said before – I don't think they are "choosing" styles, I think they are planning to release everything (or most things) over time and this was Phase 1, purely chosen by "oldest shared hairstyles" and "new things made since the release of additional Viera/Hrothgar hairstyles was planned" without specifically considering the appearances. Phase 2 (the new Viera styles incoming today) continues that pattern.

At the most generous interpretation, I think they diverted from the slow-but-unique route honestly thinking it was the best way to address people's frustration about the limited choice.

Aye. They've also (supposedly) have made it so more of the facial features are interchangeable between, well, faces but I would hold off on getting excited for that until it can be truly confirmed.

That said, they have stated that they moved some fantasia-only options to the aesthetician. This was not in the preliminary notes, indicating it was a last-minute change as can be seen here: https://www.diffchecker.com/qqdgOvGk ( https://i.imgur.com/WkiFzjn.png )

How much exactly was going to require a fanta is unknown. So it could've been the new hairstyles or it could've been just the facial features. We don't know.

That doesn't tell us there was a last-minute change from requiring a Fantasia for hairstyle changes, only that there was a last-minute change to the text of the patch notes. It's more likely that they simply forgot (or didn't think it necessary) to specifically mention the aesthetician separate from editing with Fantasia.

Also, the extra facial features have never required a Fantasia to edit. There's no reason they would start now even if the hairstyles still required it.