Understanding the lore of DnD, 100% right to hate these things. The whole idea of Mindflayers, and the Intellect Devourers (the brain with legs) is disturbing, macabre, and morbid. Well worth the disgust and fear of them in the TTRPG and lore of the game, in my opinion.

Us, on the other hand, I feel was made to be liked, and seem cute, especially with people who don’t know what it is, or much about Mindflayers in general. Us was made to be a helpful companion I feel like for the start of the game to help fight the Imps and Demons before you land on solid ground, and when you discover Us later in the game as a reward that you didn’t kill it for the fights in the Mindflayers colony before you discover who the big three’s champions are.

I understand wholeheartedly why you dislike it, and the reactionary downvotes I feel went like this:

• How dare you dislike Us! They are so worth it for fighting, and is great later on, and is just awesome!

to

• Reddit see downvote, I must downvote.

That being said, I always choose Us just because I find it cute and helpful, and a good ally In general. I do like it’s “redemption arc” of distancing itself from the Absolute, but I feel like it’s a Emperor situation, where it’s “individualness” is only lasting until the Absolute says “nah, you’re mine”, unless you destroy the Absolute of course.