I don't like the first person view in RPGs, either (though didn't mind it in Wizardry 8, and in general it can be ok in adventure games). Isn't there a third person view in Skyrim, though? I have not played it (no demo), but the trailer shows some third person sequences.
Boars, ducks and a number of chickens were removed in DKS for performance reasons, though I never had any issues with the Xbox version of D2:ED.
Quest experience points were adjusted in DKS to make it easier to level at the start of the game, generally allowing an extra level or two by the time the starting section of Broken Valley was complete.
Welcome to the forum.
