To save quoting, I'll just hit points and then I think I'll thank everyone for your comments and try and not be a bore with this any longer.
– Most players in my games don't have familiars running around with them. They tend to cast Find Familiar when they think they'll need one or if it really suits the moment. Familiars are cool but they can become something extra to keep tabs on when there's already a lot going on.
– Yes, Aarokockra's are described as talking funny. You have to read down a bit on that link under mannerisms. It says:
Many aarakocra punctuate their speech with chirps, sounds they use to convey emphasis and to shade meaning, much as a human might through facial expressions and gestures. An aarakocra might become frustrated with people who fail to pick up on the nuances; an aarakocra’s threat might be taken as a jest and vice versa.
Before it becomes another point of contention, I never expect anyone to perform their characters. My point in mentioning it is that in my experience players pick the race for the jetpack and completely ignore the quirks of it. Fine, make it talk like Tommy Chong and chew rat bacon for all I care, but it makes me suspicious of you and the game kind of bland when it could be otherwise if you're simply planning on strapping on wings and acting like some kind of human variant.
– Roll20 is used with DND Beyond. You literally connect them with Beyond20.
– It's fine to not want to take damage. Hell, Rug of Smothering is fairly OP. It's less than fine when you're literally trying to dig out exploits to avoid the encounter altogether. Play the game and stop trying to show how clever you think you are all the time while everyone else is checking their texts.
In closing, this wasn't about playing an Aarokocra like an actual bird or running a game with one that works. Anyone willing with a little group sense can do that, and there are plenty of ways to make an argument for this and that and we could go around all darn day. This was about the kind of player I find they attract who just wants wings and a boring advantage to breaking encounters and grandstanding, which is why I posted in the arguing for advantage thread and the races you would ban thread.
Ps. Thanks to all for refraining from making a "this argument is for the birds" joke.