I don't understand the terror of it either, and certainly I think any writer has the right to come up with whatever characters they want and do what makes them happy.

On the other hand, as a reader I do sometimes get bored if the focus stays away from my favorite characters for too long, and I want to avoid doing that. I don't have much fear of being lambasted because so far everyone's been really nice (sometimes I think too polite) about my stories, but I don't want to do something that will cause people to stop reading.

Anyway, your comment's very encouraging. Thanks for taking the time to write.