No, no nerves hit really, it’s just…odd to be told what happens editorially by someone who…doesn’t know what happens, editorially. I.e., why theorize? An actual CoG editor is right here and happy to answer questions.
I have never said to an author “you should include a/more non-binary character/s.”
On very rare occasions I’ve observed at the pitch stage when there’s a gender imbalance. Even in those instances, I don’t think I’ve ever “required” anyone to change NPCs. I’ve asked them what they think about the lack of gender balance in the cast of characters they’ve created. It’s then up to the author to defend their artistic choices, as I think Hannah has done, ably.
I think you would like to put forth some kind of narrative about what goes on behind the scenes here, and how COG editors are “forcing their politics on authors” just like we do on our readership, by your lights. But it just doesn’t happen in this way.