This is true, but perhaps they felt they needed to "fast track" the game after the director switch, so they decided to omit something that they felt wouldn't be worth the time sink in their new time line plan?
Also, they may feel that for narrative purposes that placing the focus off of the main character would create a disconnect between the player and said character?
I'm open to their vision if the game is fun, the story is good, and I don't feel underwhelmed by the time I finish the game...
...we'll see, right?