Neither, but for a different reason. She's not meant to care about Steele by design, which is to say because of Victor's machinations. She was just picked as breeding material and then presumably kept out of Victor and PC's lives regardless of her wishes, the former info coming from the tutorial and the latter my own inference. Tbh, I don't want anyone to write her. I don't think she belongs in the game.
Pretty much this. Victor wanted a legacy, not a family. He called someone who would help provide some good genetic material, made a baby and set about shaping that baby's future and by extension his legacy. Steele's mother was probably compensated well enough to live in the core and maybe has minimal contact. But she's a shadow, leave her in background, because I guarantee, anyone tries to write her, its going to lead to disappointment from a large proportion of the playerbase.
I don't really understand this reasoning. If Victor forcefully kept Steele's mother out of their life, that would make me strongly dislike them, and with the minimal writing present, they are set up as a loving couple.
I'm fine with it not being the case, and I can see the mother not being a big part of their life by choice as a possibility, but I fail to understand how it would disappoint the playerbase at all? We already have a predetermined (controversial) father figure, and a cousin with a locked in personality. I am not of the opinion that having predetermined family figures necessarily hinders roleplaying in a game where your backstory is already determined for you. If it was a more open game like CoC2, it would make sense, but I don't see what the big deal is.
In Dragon Age Origins noble origin, you have a father, mother, older brother, sister in law, nephew, nanny, aunt, cousins, and a fleshed out historical family lineage depicting battles they have been a part of(including multiple rebellions against the standing king, and a history with The Wardens).
Would you argue that any of that hindered roleplaying in the most critically acclaimed and fleshed out Dragon Age game?
I'm not sure that there are any expectations that would be set up, especially if it is minor blurb information or messages. None of this is necessary, but I don't see how it is "unnecessary" either.
There is also the fact that Steele can roleplay as having a troubled relationship with Victor, and it seems extremely natural for them to want to know about their mother.
I honestly don't get what the fuss is about either way.