Arnie: "The Guiding Hand (the player) is obviously a god. S/he will interact with the villagers all the time, picking them up and setting them tasks."

And I think that it is that we like so much. The feeling to be quite powerful? Or to master the destiny?
At least, the various characters of our villagers make them to us really attaching, especially the first to arrive! Who are also the first to go, and, every time, it broke my heart