Life Choices in the Sword Coast

If you don't understand the conundrum below, get off my page:

So I'm travelling through the Sword Coast, searching for my usual party of adventurers.  With Imoen, Kivan and Branwen safely in the bag, I head to Nashkel looking for Minsc, but along the way I pick up Neera who, being a mage makes Dynaheir redundant; so without Dynaheir, I can't take Minsc - which leaves me with a huge decision! Do I take two mages, so I can bring Minsc along? The question is, who goes?  Number one on the list is Imoen, but she's so useful being a Thief.  If she goes, I have to fill up all my level 2 spell slots with Knock and all sorts of other complicated concerns for rogue-less parties.  So if Imoen has to stay, that means I have to drop Dynaheir and Minsc since they come as a matched pair.  But then I have an empty slot, and who to fill it with?

GAH, Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition, Y U MAKE LIFE CHOICES SO DIFFICULT?

Damn you, Overhaul.