I think if the game has major shifts in the main path based on a couple of choices, then yeah. It'd be hard without a Harem route. But if the game ends generally the same, but we get different ending routes, then that's good for me and makes more sense in my book. I'd be willing to play different paths.
In Japanese visual novels there is the Common route and then ending choices. In most they lock out content with at least 2 of the girls by the end, but you can generally make a decision for 2 or more girls by the last 2 or so decisions. Western games are a LOT more forgiving cause they'll let you choose almost every right choice and all you have to do is decide what girl you want to end the game with (IF you have to choose at ALL). I'm very used to the "choose a girl" way of doing things, but I'm also not mad at the new Western Harem paths where you can keep all the girls from the beginning. Cause even in Japanese games, you usually had to go through every girls individual path just to unlock the Harem path
I feel us Harem fans are spoiled bitches, But PLEASE let us continue to be
Deadpool DP