While I enjoy creating characters, I find playing as them to be equally, if not more so, satisfying. However, I will not play or create a character that doesn't match my personality in some way. Nor will I play characters I didn't make.

So, yes, I believe the idea of being "God" plays a role in preferring character creation. I however disagree with your second remark. The example doesn't fully fit the theory either. Its playing a character and feeling out how they are that makes a character a character. Sure, you could go make an oriental character that adheres to a code and behaves a specific way, but being human, can change they way they act, what they believe in. It would simply be more difficult considering he or she has spent their life being one way. To sum it up, you are the character. They are who we make them, even after we make them.