From what I know, lotsa people bitched about Berwyn, devs probably got annoyed by 'em and just did it so they won't have anymore bitching from folks who want to remove Berwyn.
Now they probably have folks bitching about bringing back Berwyn after the update.
The way I play the game is that I treat anything that is a fucking HERM as non-existent.
Sure I still do the questline only because of the loot I'll get but that character is DEAD to me.
I'll still let 'em join me for the party 'coz combat is a thing but interacting though? That's a line I will never cross.