"(Really EA)" Only a novice with zero experience with BioWare would ever say that. EA has treated BioWare as its own video game studio and just accepting the $$$ that come their way. Much the way they did with Mythic, however very much the opposite of Mythic, BioWare has excelled with their products after the merger.
Nevertheless, it is ignorant and childish to expect BioWare to ignore a potential lucrative deal, whether it is adding Niko Okarr to the Cartel Market or any other idea. I want them to make as much money as possible because it keeps EA happy and BioWare is better able to make ever better and more video games.
See with more profit, they can hire more employees to speed up production or begin on a new project. Unlike governments, private companies base their decisions on money that is actually in their bank accounts instead of what "may happen with the product".
The devs and producers are the ones "responsible" for SW:TOR. Tentatively trusting them to decide what to do with Nico Okarr, ok with am I. Maybe instead they will just keep him as a reward for future events as well.?. I think that may be the best of both worlds. Nico Okarr is current in their story, unlike HK and Treek who are either from KotOR or reminiscent of the original trilogies.
More precisely, I would expect them to add a Gungan, Eridani, or Mira Luka companion to the Cartel Market before adding someone in the current story. It would be as if they offered Satele Shan as a romance-able companion on the Cartel Market. Versus keeping them as a reward they may add for specific unique actions in future galactic events they hold.
As far as Mythic is concerned, they had been bought by EA with much the same understanding. The only reason that changed is because of how very much Mythic failed to deliver. It is also silly to expect EA to not do something to fix it.
That said, E.A. has many Studios that make video games; they get a very much undeserved bad rep because of the failures any unique Studio under their umbrella. People erroneously think parent companies by default micromanage studios and companies in general, that they own.
The only time EA probably visits BioWare offices is when there is a new money deal to be made such as beginning peliminary production of a new game. Such as Dragon Age 5, which probably will occur just before or just after DA IV is released... maybe before given that the franchise has been so lucrative. But a for a bran new franchise?