I think we'd all agree that our reasons why we like Zelda games are all different, but that we all would get them simply because we trust the title.
However, removing a character would most definitely spark controversy. Taking Link out of a game, for instance, would confuse many long-time...
I'd say our love of Link and Zelda and Ganondorf is greater than our love of the plot or style of the game, but without the game they mean nothing.
If you rephrased to "Characters More Important Than Plot?" I'd completely agree with you, but even with that the plot and the game are what...