Running a mixed team definitely helps, as well as the naming convention. I started out with a shaman group and got some hatorade, but when I started my mixed group I got only a few comments. If you look at my signature you'll see how they're named.

I've never seen guys running in a triangle setup. I have no idea how they would stay on the same path.

As far as one following the other; doable but it'll be toughest for when it comes to turning corners. Your clones "cheat" corners. When going around a corner they don't traverse the exact path of the one they're following. Imagine 5 toons trying to go up a round tower to get to the FP guy.

I can also see your followers getting snagged on something all the time.

Ignore the haters. They don't know you, nor do they have any input into how you should play a video game. No one has the power to make a logical or correct judgment about you simply based on an avatar on their computer screen. That avatar is not your representative; it's only a character you play. If someone says something then ignore it.

This was my "discussion" with a guy in Org the other day:

Fool #1: Why would you waste so much money?
Me: It's MY MONEY.
Me: Not Yours.
Me: My money.
Me: And I can waste my money on whatever I want to right?
Fool #1: True.

And that was the end of the conversation. He was a kid. They're all kids. Don't be bothered by what a stranger who you'll never run across outside of a video game thinks of you, or says to you. They mean nothing.