Yeah but a lot of the whining about isn't looking at a game set in today's America or how it affects realism (funny enough the way some use realism as well to whine, heh) or it as part of development rather than it being something "driving" people away. Plenty of Asians, Blacks, Latinos, homosexuals, people that identify with blenders, etc play games and somehow manage to not need to be one with the protagonist, just find it odd.
Then again, in most all cases "need" is just "I am pouting and want this".