Honestly, kinda agree on Shulk, even though I do like him as a character? But considering how many cues this game's story took from Chrono Trigger, it was almost awkward at certain points to hear him talk.

Also: less to say =/= less personality.

While we're at it, I think it's important to point out that silent protagonists are ever outright mutes. They definitely talk and the characters around them react to it, which forms the basis for you to fill in the gaps, which I feel is what makes them the more immersive option of the two.

I will concede that the silent protagonist was handled poorly in XCX though, as much as I enjoyed the game. I'm gonna chalk it up to the character models just being very unexpressive, coupled with the character creation, which resulted in something that was ultimately kinda lifeless? Though with the revelations at the end, perhaps that was the point.