: As for Palmer, just like in a lot of games, movies, shows, and comics, so
: many female characters seem so forced - either they're an insulting
: stereotype or some obvious tool to 'break stereotype'. Why can't we just
: have a good character, who happens to be a girl (in popular
: entertainment)?

I think ultimately Keyes was simply too much of a minor character. There wasn't any real reason to go into her story because like many characters in the series she's sidelined or simply an actor helping the player character. Since we're not directly fighting with these people they don't really develop, and it's hard to argue that they should be given the time to do so.