[Update #71: The Heavy Hitters: Rogues and Rangers]

Can you apply an option for Rangers to "ditch" their animal companion in exchange for some other benefit? Even if it's ultimately less effective than the range of utility provided by the Animal, it seems strange to require that all heroes built around ranged combat (for instance, if you wanted a gun fighter) to have a pet. It would allow the player a real divergent option in how they wanted to build a ranger.

 

Seconded. I can't remember if subclasses have been confirmed or denied yet, but if they are in, a ranger further specialized in archery but with no animal companion might be an obvious choice for a subclass?