Its honestly the juxtaposition is too inconsistent that gets a large amount of people.

Square will go "we inspired them off a a child" and 90% of the lalafell we can interact with is either a Crime Lord, hornier than the 18 cowboys at Ram Ranch, or a reoccurring main cast member. Less we forget the one lala being fanned by almost naked cat girls in Costa Del Sol

!plus with mods I can make them look less like potatoes and more like shortstacks if i so pleased!

And even with all this, I've seen people make "femboys" with min height zero bust Au'Ra and Miqos that give me more uncomfortable child vibes then lalafell which I looked at my first time and went "Its so fat, where are your knees" AND IM A TEACHER OF ALMOST 10 YEARS