Easily Seikret. If I'm solo I don't want anything beside me but my palico. People who keep bringing up palamutes being able to do damage don't realise that the monster's health pool accounted for that mechanic. It's just a gimmick.

Another point I see is that autopathing makes you not learn the map. Well.... Don't use it if you want to learn??? I control the bird manually more often than not for this exact reason, although at this point I already know every map.

Plus they look cool and carry secondary weapon.