I hope you've been reading the thread to see the different viewpoints, especially the ones that find it baffling and insulting/ignorant to call it creepy like Tyeforce who sees it as lessening of the very few LGBT interactions in the game.
No, I've not read the entire thread. Only the first page. I don't have the time or patience this late at night. It's nearly midnight here. That means I unfortunately have missed out on this angle.
I'm sorry that some LGBT interactions have been removed, but I still think Nintendo made the right call overall. I'm not calling LGBT interactions creepy, but the general act of "petting" humans. It's weird. This is a strategy RPG, not Tamagotchi. Somethings gotta give, and sometimes some good goes with the bad.
Review scores are the most worthless things that get associated with games, I personally find the concept of putting the result of a review over the integrity of a product ridiculous.
You're allowed to think whatever you want about the feature that was cut, but I really doubt it would have "scared away" anyone.
Edit: to further elaborate on my first point, there are plenty of reasons that can cause content to be cut, but I find even the thought of cutting content for the sake of reviews slightly disgusting.
First off, I've not said that this was cut for the sake of reviews. I'm not Nintendo, and I don't have an uncle who work there so I don't know their specific reasoning.
Perhaps it wouldn't have scared people off, but I still don't see what it's doing in a game like Fire Emblem. First people get upset with Awakening being too much about relationships, now people want them to take it further? I loved Awakening, but I want it to remain appealing to the people who loved it for what it is.
Now don't think I'm a review score junkie, I'm all for reviews dropping a number at the end. But you don't need a number to have a review be negatively affected by something.
I have no problem with Nintendo deciding to cut content that in my personal opinion is an unappealing part of the package. I'm sorry for your loss, but I won't miss it. And I don't think the majority will either, which is probably a thought that struck Nintendo as well.