hiya!
so i will preface in saying i haven't played LT since the prototype (i'm waiting for it to be closer to completion myself) and i did not back it back when. all the same!
i generally trend more in favour of sticking closer to the core NPCs, as i believe that errs closer to the original intent for the successful kickstarter in focusing on core content. on a personal level i am also more interested in the core content being adapted than homebrew (even good homebrew!), and though Kai Tave has done a lot of good work on first party material and has a lot of experience in honing from playtesting, it does still fall under that umbrella and at least to myself, feels that way in some regards even if i find some of the changes solid or fun in their own right. to be clear, my opinions on the rebake do remain mixed but favourable, though i've mostly read them and only played with them a handful of times, so maybe my opinion will shift one way or the other going forward.
i do think your reasoning is sound in it's own right too, so if it is ultimately decided to go that direction because you think it will make for a better balanced game, i'll still definitely play it! just wanted to weigh in from my own angle.
on that note, i figure below you mean you'll be meeting to discuss what is currently available, but all the same, i'd ask more than a week to collate from the responses to this potential change (if ya aren't already!) as it is a significant one and people do have busy lives (especially with finals going on for lots of folks!)
in any case, i look forward to following future developments and playing a lot when it is closer to completion!