Honestly without fully understanding how important/unimportant attributes would be, coming from FFXI, I chose Highlander because it had the highest STR rating while also having second highest rating in VIT(at the time) and respectable other stats (decently high MND).

That and the option to finally play a Hume that had some bulk to them, rather than just being another bishie boy in a Final Fantasy was something I liked a rather lot. I trend towards things like Half-orc or full Orc if they're available, and Highlander was somewhat up that alley with the whole lore about being rumored to be half Roegadyn and such (really just an insult from insecure Midlanders loL).

I also started a Roegadyn as my first alt character back during 2.1. He wasn't a permanent fixture after Au Ra came out, though.

Lore I make up for my character changes on a whim, so I try not to think to hard about it.

Over the years I've tried out other races on alts as well. I find that Highlander males are the best at showing pain in their facial expressions.