...when it comes to voice acting. Really though, who can blame them? If they can get fantastic sales without it, why bother spending more money? Voice acting would mean that they would have to pay for both Japanese AND English voice actors, and those voice actors would likely get a piece of every game sale (if my understanding of royalties is correct).
Not to mention it would ruin the Zelda franchise by breaking tradition..
There is obviously no reason NOT to have characters other then Link talk. Midna used the animal crossing gibberish talking for one thing. This was clearly to give her more personality and uniqueness without incurring costs and drama from hiring voice actos. Navi, to everyone's annoyance, constantly shouted out "Hey, Look, Listen!" as often as she could.
As you said, The jibberish those characters said gave them deeper personality..
As for the whole taboo thing about Link talking, this is complete BS. Non canon excursions aside, Link has talked at least twice that I have noted. The first time was in AoL when he finds a mirror under a table and says "I found a mirror under the table". While I have heard debates from some people as this being a mistranslation, or its someone under the table talking or something like that, the second time is clearly unmistakable. In Wind Waker when he is trying to get something to follow him in an escort mission, he clearly shouts "Come On". Link has spoken. The gimmick is over. Nintendo is avoiding voice acting to avoid costs and drama, which is fine, as long as people understand that fact.
Those are MISTAKES.. Link doesn't talk, He isn't suppsoed to. Why?
It's tradition to have text bubbles, Including voice acting would take away the one thing that makes "Zelda".. well "Zelda"
Something I just had to get off of my chest.