@Tfmonkey re- anime harem protagonist conversion: You disagree with the male protagonist being a self-insert of the male author who created the character. How can it not be a self insert, when the author and viewers (average guys) would sacrifice anything to be in that situation.
@theFlow @Tfmonkey For harem animes to be successful, they have to allow the protagonist to be a vessel for the audience; so, they depict the protagonist that the market wants: an individual with no solid character traits who develops a role in the story to gain the affection of the females therein. The more bland the initial character, the more relatable; this is why a character like Guts can't fit the model. He is a character in his own right rather than a vessel.
@theFlow @Tfmonkey Yes.