I wish there was just a fee to pay to get a race change, like $30-40. I am a gold donator and I had planned to throw some money into the pot for advertising during the account drive but trying to do that with the intention of getting enough Fame to purchase a reward is unrealistic. I know I was on the fence about going Iksar or Barb for my warrior at first, I settled on Barb because of the exp bonus (not worth it in the long run) and the 1% innate melee crit (which doesn't exist?).
I had a friend take off, not specifically because of the race issue but that was probably the straw that broke the camel's back. 1-55 as a barb rogue and not one crit till he got the AAs, considering that seems to be the trade off for being huge and blind it PO'd him. He eventually couldn't stand that no matter what he did he would be giant and blind after he was hit with a bonds his shrink would be gone or with with a boon his SB illusion was gone. I am not saying being able to pay for a race change would have made him stay, but it might be nice to have the option.
