Yeah, this one is by design.
I can agree there are tactical differences between them such that the whispers may be preferable to the gazes for various builds, but I'm reluctant to dilute Psychic (which the game prefers to give to magic-inclined, and thus usually ranged, enemies) with more of the melee abilities. Pink Whisper I allow because I wasn't willing to give Alluring Gaze that early (and Charm is powerful enough where even it ending up on a ranged dude might prove deadly.)