With RPG's you surely mean "real" RPG's and not something, that people just like to call RPG's (Such as Final Fantasy series) ?
Well, some called even Hexen "RPG-like" game, becouse you could choose your character :-)
I've been developing a strategy game myself, not much RPG elements there, but I've been thinking about implementing possibility to develop characters... In fact, I don't know if that's a good idea, as I have been concentrating on making it multiplayer game...