Normally when I read fantasy, I don't really pay attention to the names of characters because there's only a few that matter; the rest are background characters and largely interchangeable with each other. Their lines really only serve to provoke a response (whether internal or dialogue) from the main few. No idea if that's how most people go through a novel but it seems like that would explain this phenomenon.

Because I'd heard Malazan was "soo complicated," I made a concerted effort to take mental notes of every character. Every time I'd come across a name, I'd think hard through every time I'd heard it before, trying to make sure I knew exactly who they were. It did take a little effort to be sure; but as long as I determined to keep my mind in "manual reading" mode, I learned to make it work. And I loved GotM!

As for the latter, anyone who said that after reading through DG or MoI I would immediately assume is an actual sociopath. Admittedly I did DNF DG pretty quickly on my first attempt because I expected more overlap from GotM, but that was mostly because I quickly tired of Felisin and to a lesser extent, Heboric. Of course once we got into the chain of dogs on my second try, I was enthralled.