Yes... here's hoping that Larian will continue making their games more interactive and open. Things like the dishes and food were great additions (wash dishes, need food to rest) and maybe in the next one, tools to do repairs and modifications to weapons with (use the anvil, smelt ore, etc). Another game to quickly mention is Prince of Qin, only because of the effort they put into item creation by the player and the ammount of detail for the item descriptions (historical uses and the like). That aside, I think more games might benefit from such features. How awesome would that have been in DD or BD to craft your own weapons (not like in NWN, those aren't customizable enough, nor Arcanums for the same reason) from resources found in the world? I know that they are not going "back" to 2D, but I think that such features would extend playability (going around looking for those special elements for making a sword just right...).
I did like the idea of the gem bag, but would like more than one in the future, maybe at a reduction for each additional bag (first provides 100% effects, second 80%, third 60% etc) and since the next offering is multiplayer, I don't think that they should really beef up the resistances afforded, but rather should provide a bonus if all gems in the bag are of the same type and more if they are the same size etc... Just a thought.
As for water and it's role, I think a boat would be universally welcomed as it would provide more freedom to reach "secret" places alluded to by NPCs or literature in game. While the spirit thing worked in DD, I think overall boats would be a better way to go (I do not know what kind of Multiplayer they are looking at, but I hope that it is the whole storyline and not either a MM or a module only thing like Arcanum). You could stash your stuff there, sleep there etc. Oh, and travel in it by means of steering it yourself (none of that warping stuff, that cheapens the trip and immersion). See previous comments above on exploration = fun in RPGS.
Still, I'm not too picky... just know what I like. And I will think of more to add <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
If you still have a copy of U7 kicking around, this is a great program to relive that game
http://exult.sourceforge.net/. It should work on all windows and unix platforms...