This video does an alright job at explaining why the Localization is so different

[Kazhar]

I'm just a bit surprised when non-native English speakers care so much about the English translation. If someone told me the French translation was awful, my reaction would be "oh, okay. Sucks for them", but it wouldn't affect my enjoyment at all.

Most of my online discussions about this game are done in English, so it does bother me a bit when the players I'm interacting with experience a different story than I did (especially since there is a huge unwarranted biais towards the English translation as being a more canon experience than its other two counterparts).

Haurchefant as a more flamboyant lovable pervert just wouldn't work in the West

Maybe it's true in NA, but isn't France part of the West too? And we got Creepy Weirdo Haurchefant in his full glory (don't know about the German Translation). Casual observation tells me that the French community was more than fine with that portrayal.