I think we have had a chat about personality before, but yes, it is pretty much how it works for me. A person's identity is multi-faceted and mecurial.

Oh yes, the Major Traumatic experience that gives their fave characters more to angst about. I'm getting quite sick of that.

You got it exactly. You've got to include the world if you're have the character. If you care going to build a new world you might as well make original characters.