I'm not annoyed by panda men. I don't actually play, I have an observer's interest. I'm slightly perplexed that of all the races they chose to make panda people playable. the east-asian bent is a nice touch, but in that respect panda people a a tad on the nose and potentially cliche.
What is odd is that they have a whole expansion that adds only one new race, which presumably goes to both factions. Both these aspects are unique.
I used to talk to Mitsur about the possibility of the third faction, deep ones out of the sea. Murlocs, naga etc. He didn't seem very confident, something about "an underwater homeland would be difficult for other factions to attack" and other such nonsense designed to ruin my idea.