Can someone tell me if this is still the case as of the latest update?
4) is actually only half-true. If you go South, Charlotte will be in the abbey (Leon ran there searching for his father).
I actually somewhat prefer this version over the"house helper" route.
Beth is northern exclusive, but also missable there. And iirc you can free and meet her in Rathpike if you missed her before.
Marie, who I *think* is the missing fiance of the half-drowned guy from the northern route, is exclusive to the southern route.
I personally also think that the appearance of the mother and lord guy (sorry, I am terrible with names) makes more sense if you go that route.
Basically, you get more content (which is not fully implemented tbh) if you go south, but it is harder. Not harder in the sense that the actual prologue is harder, but in the sense that you start with less after the prologue. And you will start in Velos and have no option to go to Rathpike instead.