I'm guilty of "oh, what's his name, the hot guy" kind of thinking, or "so-and-so's sister", etc. also; and I do use that kind of thing in fic. *grin* That feels normal. These more generic epithets wouldn't bother me either if it was only an occasional thing. But when it's like, every other sentence, it just jars me.

Especially when it descends to the level of "the axe-ridden dwarf", regarding Bifur. Particularly when the POV character is another dwarf. I mean, what even. It would be like me looking at one of the other gals in my office (who has had past physical issues) and thinking "the breastless white woman", it just feels like that level of tone-deaf tactlessness to me.