I don't mind playing as a female, however if I have a choice I'd rather be a male. Saying you'd rather stare at a female model is no excuse though, considering this is a first person shooter, it's only third person a small portion of the time. Even if the game was third person, you wouldn't be staring at your character, you'd be playing the game. I have nothing against people who play other genders by choice, I just think excuses like that are rather stupid.