If players are to customize and personalize their character, outfits, gear, etc, why is destiny not a third person shooter? Surely it would be better to see your own unique character at all times?

Why do some people spend a long time attending to their hair in the morning without intending to stare into a mirror all day?

If players are to express themselves through waving, dancing, and other emotes, why is Destiny not a Kinect-only dancing game? Surely it would be better to see your own unique dance moves at all times?

Why bother putting guns in the game at all?

Dash-cam, helmet-cam or bumper-cam is the way to do it.

Srsly Cody, thought you were pro like me? Disappointed.

Guessing you're not being entirely serious, but clearly that is something they've thought long about, considering the meetup areas seem to be third-person.

It was a third person shooter at one point, wasn't it?

I'm guessing they just kept experimenting and felt the combat and exploratory experience in having it be first person was worth not seeing your dude(t) most of the time.
Which, assuming that's true (it's a big assumption), is a great reason in my book, pointing to an emphasis on ensuring the core gameplay is as good as they can do it rather than sacrificing it slightly for a supplementary mechanic (visual player customisation).

Bear in mind this is coming from a Mass Effect 3 multiplayer junkie, but I've always found exploration and combat to be much more immersive and visceral in first-person. We've already seen stylistic flair with the camera pulling back so the player can witness their own awesome special powers; it seems to me a nice balance is being struck between pimping your kit and keeping the action intimate.

But I guess the short answer would be because it's less exciting.

~M

This is opinion.... but... First Person is far better for competitive multiplayer. I also find it more enjoyable in general for moving and aiming.

Surely it would be better to see your own unique character at all times?

Vanity being what it is, I think it only makes sense to admire your character's appearance in certain contexts, namely the non-combat settings (the Guardian Tower, or whatever it's called) and (assuming such a feature exists in Destiny) in the Theatre mode. For the other people you encounter in-game, they'll get to see your appearance every time they meet you, regardless of context, so I think it works well this way. This is to say nothing of how different a game it would be if it was third-person, and how I am doubtful that Bungie think cosmetic appearance should dictate rather than support the gameplay they have in mind.

Because I wouldn't buy it if it was.

BUNGIE is FPS, the clothes/armor or asthetics and shoudn't dictate the genre of the game.

The situations w/in Destiny will offer plenty of 3rd person views to gloat over your fashions...

By that logic, shouldn't every shooter that allows you to customize your character be third-person instead of first-person, Halo included?

Before it was officially announced, I had assumed it was going to be a third-person game specifically because of the social aspects combined with the character customization. I personally would have opted for third person because of this (further back like Lost Planet rather than Gears of War), but like what was said above, it's most likely because the gameplay didn't suit the TPS perspective well.

A couple others also said that it's because Bungie is a FPS studio or that it has to be first person to be competitive, but I don't really see those as valid points.