Our plan for the guests and match-making are tinkered with every now and then, to adjust for scope, time and what human resources we have available. Let's just say that getting the game done is more important than getting it perfect, and it's best if we readjust the plans to reach the end before the thermal death of the universe.
What this means is that we have two sets of plans: what we must develop for the game to be minimally complete and what, in a best case scenario, we would like to have if all the stars align.
When we get back to the main story you'll always recruit Oscar, and you will only get P or Argos (unless you have the Leader background and fulfill some conditions, in which case you can get both). Beyond those three, right now we plan on adding three more characters to the game, all of which will be optional. This will bring the total cast to Asterion, Luke, Kota, Robert, Themba, Wolf, Khenbish, Oscar, Pedro, Argos, Optional Guests 1, Guest 2 and 3. These 3 optional characters will be intimately connected with guests that you may (or may not) have recruited before.
It's probably worth noting that some characters might already have their whole story told without romance. It's possible that a few of them might just be very happy with being single by the end of the story.
Depending on how things go, we may either go with the Big Plan, which involves writing up to 4 more optional guests once the main story is done, or we will go for the relatively more manageable task of pairing up the already existing cast in a closer net of possibilities. We'll try to go with what's the best mix of satisfying and manageable.
Some of the player backgrounds will get their big bonuses later in the game. We are aware some of them aren't as attractive as others. Arts is really good right now because it lets you recruit one extra guest for free, Leader will let you have P and Argos if you play your cards right. We want to give more juicy stuff for the others to make them just as interesting.