Personally, I think being able to play as beast races is the pinnacle of fantasy. Sure, humans, dwarves, and elves are the classics, but what about all of the sentient, humanoid animals that run amok and have their own settlements? Fact is, those have always appealed the most to me, from the Argonian of Elder Scrolls to D&D's Thri-kreen to Everquest's Ratonga.
...I don't know. I get some people don't like playing as animal-like races, but, regardless, it's good to have the options there.