It is tricky sometimes.

Personas should be created based on field research and data collected from your targeted audience, rather than grabbed from the “established ones”. I agree, there is no help if designers assume their users as DINK or WEIRD.

however field-data-based personas are still quite useful in terms of effectively summarizing and communicating research findings. Together with storytelling, proper use of personas actually helps the design team emphasize with the end-users.

Behavioral profiling looks very promising and definitely leaves no room for stereotyping. Thank you for writing about it and would be interested in learning more.