>>719050490
this isn't exactly chess, and if you ask literally anyone who plays chess if they could replace the king with almost anything else that isn't weak as shit they would say "yes please".
These are supposed to also be characters that players are supposed to become attached to. having to protect a weakling heavily gimps people's ability to bond with a character because they'll come to resent being forced to use them, see Roy. A lot of avatars are likely busted, or very good all around, to both promote this bonding and to allow players to play how they want. If someone doesn't want their avatar to be stuck using swords, or a staves, they can reclass them to a mage, or berserker, etc. If you don't have a character good enough to pull that off, you instantly shit on anyone who prefers that playstyle. This versatility permits various play styles and strategies. this wouldn't necessarily matter that much if the player weren't forced to field them, but as they are, they need to be reliably viable.
TL:DR
This isn't chess, so that idea doesn't work. People hate having to field dead weight, and making the avatar/lord stronger helps the player bond with the character and give a shit about them. It also promotes various play styles, strategies, and preferences, all of which are healthier than locking someone into a 20+ chapter escort mission.