No, nobody is kidding you AFAICT.
The issue as always is broadening the appeal of the game while still keeping it old-school, hardcore and group focused.
If putting in some costume options for girls (which doesn't effect the 'hardcore' nature of the game) broadens the appeal, why wouldn't Visionary Realms consider it?
People in general don't seem to mind holidays (well as long as there aren't too many and they have some linkage to the in-game lore - my personal preference is for something like: Yuletide Celebration instead of Christmas and All Hallow's Eve/Day of the Dead instead of Halloween) and some people really like them, so again, if it broadens the appeal, doesn't detract from the 'hardcore' nature of the game (however defined) why not talk about it.
@Tauro we're all still waiting on KS info though technically, discussion of Creed's trinket slot is a discussion of the 'base game' because it would probably have to be in at release to be useful.
