This is the only monster hunter I can respect, as it is obtusely attempting to be as insanely disfunctional as possible.
There is no bait about if this is or isn't a timesink, this is a timesink, this is going to suck the hours out of your life, and it states it's intent from the very beggining.
Also the cats can throw bombs at you and fuck you up whenever they please, and you can't desactivate it. It's the worst companion in the history of videogames and I love 'em.