According to the people who have made Link the main character of every Zelda game.
If you don't want to play as Link, play a game that isn't Zelda. There are plenty of those, so not sure why existing characters should get axed. Especially the most important one in the series who is also one of...
The entire series being about Link say it. Nothing says a gay female octopus can't rescue donuts by beating Nazi's at billiards, but making that and calling it Super Mario won't make it a Mario game.