There's a difference between "care" and "over-reaction." People can care. I really don't think anything of people going "OK, this is f***ing stupid."
People were signing a petition to make the book non-canon and lobbying directly to BioWare about this. You don't see how someone would see this as an over-reaction by the fanbase to something like this? Something that doesn't have a direct impact on the key part of the series: the games?
Why weren't they fighting harder when they were so upset about the changes to Dragon Age II during development? Why didn't they insist on the PC version containing mechanics similar to the previous PC version? Why put so much effort into rendering a book non-canon but not protecting the actual video game you're supposed to care about?
That's why I perceive it as an over-reaction.
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TheRock ~ Slow dramatic zoom-pan. Doesn't phase the hooded man.