Yeah instead of a character who is arguably the most popular in the Forgotten Realms and one of the most storied in all of fantasy fiction lets just slap some no-name mook "every PC" character image on the cover like those on the new PHB. That will really capitalize on FR's uniqueness...part of which is its NPCs.
[/end sarcasm]
This sounds like "Waaah, Waaah I hate Drizzt (or Elminster, the Simbul, whoever) because my PC will never be as cool as him." All I have to say about that is don't blame FR, blame your DM. I have DM'd FR for years alongside my homebrew and my player's PCs have strong allies among the power brokers of FR and indeed are in some ways their equal. I have never allowed the NPCs to show up the PCs, but there were times when they needed their help and in turn helped them accomplish their goals.
Enough with the Drizzt (Elminster, Seven Sisters, etc.) hate already. More people love those characters than ever played D&D in the FR. WoTC is smart enough see the value in well loved characters in regards to their marketing potential.
No one ever seems to hate Artemis Entreri, Manshoon, Szazz Tamm, or evil NPCs of great power. Oh yeah, because powerful bad guys are cool.
As long as I have lurked and posted on RPing boards the overwrought drama and misplaced loathing never, ever changes.