Tell me, what else are virtually all the humanoid races in fantasy and SF if not just that? ["funny-looking humans with cool powers"]...although they may not have special powers, just accentuated human characterists and senses.
As a matter of fact I am guilty of creating such species myself, but there is a reason, I am a human and think accordingly, and as I think I create. when a young female editor for a large publishing house once querried me in accusitory tone, "Why do you always write from the masculine perspective?!"
"Madam, I happen to be a male."
Gary