I've been both roleplaying and GMing for a while now, and I've done the [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4798556]Bloated Character Sheet[/url] numerous times, I've tried having players replace a [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/3130624]Character History's with a Writing Sample[/url] and I've been experimental and done a proof of [URL=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4101105]Concept[/url] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4504950]Sheet[/url]. I also could have sworn that I have done a sheet where players provide basic information and then link posts they're proud of in lieu of a bio, but I couldn't find an example of that.

The point of this is, I don't think there's one 'character sheet' that works for every game or GMing style. What one GM sees as superficial, another might see as essential. You mention sexuality in your opening post, and while sexuality might not matter in say a fandom RP, it could be a necessary detail in a slice of life or romance RP. While an arbitrary weight may not be important, a general character description and build are. A character sheet at the very minimum should include enough details that I can interact and accurately describe your character from mine's point of view. 

Could these details be described in the IC? Absolutely, they could, but not every writer is going to go through the morning montage of getting dressed and describing their character in detail. A novel gets away with vague character descriptions because all the characters are created by the same author, they know what Hank looks like compared to Harriet. But in roleplaying, we're collaboratively writing and I need to know at least an overview of your vision if you want me to reply and react to your character in an accurate manner. 

Should character sheets be all telling? No, absolutely not, you need to be able to have things to flesh out in the IC and work towards. The length of the first CS I linked is largely due to build a world and its history within in the context of the RP, which again comes back to my original point, the RP should determine the CS. Using one template over and over, will not work unless you solely GM the same genre and even then shifts in the story telling might require a different template. For example, an RP which features characters on the run might require an inventory whereas another where characters are free to go to and from their homes does not as characters can regularly retrieve and exchange items on their person.

At the end of a day, a character sheet is just as much for you as a player as it is for the GM. You should be using a character sheet whether or not the RP calls for it if only to keep your character consistent. Whether the GM asks you to specify that Arthur is 5'-10" or not, I should be able to ask and you should be able to tell me immediately. Like many others pointed out, it protects against on the fly decisions and power gaming. While some might argue it promotes meta-gaming, I honestly have no problem in players having a public CS and a private one for their own reference so long as the two don't contradict or mislead. 

Really, all of this is a long winded way of saying, no I don't want to see character sheets abolished, just adaptable.