It's the latter, this was supposed to be a comic with Quill and Male MC as the protags thus already having a lot of the male CGs (comic art) beforehand. But yes, people are nicer to you if you choose a more femme appearance and there are some different art with Ivar, and Lyall.
Perhaps if I have the energy, I will redraw the femme version's Opening, but I do not have the willpower yet as I'm still heartbroken from losing the raw files of that scene