[quote=ASTA]
That's because people are unwilling to step outside of their comfort zones. Seriously people, break some tropes. Shatter some stereotypes. Not everything has to adhere to the 'Tolkien Model' or the various mythologies that he based his series off of. Want to have a master dwarf mage that can disrupt molecular bonds through touch or thought? Do it. Want to have a dwarf arbalist that can put Legolas to shame? Do it. This isn't rocket science.
[/quote]

The problem is that breaking dwarf tropes usually requires you to already want to play a dwarf. Everyone can make a unique dwarf if they say "Okay, I want to play one of these but make it interesting." But usually people will glace at the race list and an idea for a unique human or elf (Whose instinctual roles are much more flexible) will pop into their heads without having to think "Okay, so right now I have a template for a character that I don't want to play. How do I turn it into a character I do want to play?"

Basically: Most people that play a trope-defying dwarf will be doing so because they were already interested in the idea of dwarves, but didn't want to play a beer quaffing miner. But most people aren't going to say "Man, that race looks boring, and that one looks fun to play. Instead of playing the one I'm interested in, I'm going to try and think of a way to make the boring race as interesting as the other race."