I agree with you on a lot of the parts;
The free round, I REALLY HOPE that is a bug, because I find it bullshit that they get one free round. Like why? I'm not being ambushed. It's not like this is Xcom2 and the enemies in front of me suddenly went into "concealment" and got a free round or some shit. There is zero reason for them to have a free round (if its a feature, i hope this is confirmed by someone from larian) and if it s a feature, it should be removed. Early game you are already weak, and yet enemies get multiple things to just cheat? That forces you to cheese the game, doesn't make the game hard, makes it unfair. 2 different things.
Didn't do Griff fight, saw no reason or benefit to do it (Aside from roleplaying aspect, but even with that i didnt bother bc you're too weak early and they have skillbooks and other items for sale, which is what i care about more).
Took me a 2nd try to beat the Witch in the cave fight, first one my rogue just got stuck next to her with the ongoing "stun blood" thing where electricity doesnt go away. Or blood/water stay there and it looks like the stun water lasts like 20 turns. But there are a lot...A LOT of adds, who actually do decent damage as well, need to position carefully before fight.
Same with Alexander fight, you have to position before, which is okay in a way, makes it more "Strategic", but on the other hand, if the game forces you to do this (and dont say it doesnt, the game does, it did in the first game as well. i am not doing some shitty cheese builds or w/e and other crap). Not only is the enemy always going first, but they get that free round, so you HAVE to position beforehand while one person talks, in ALMOST EVERY SINGLE FIGHT in act 1. (I didnt do ship after alexander bit, so please dont use any fights or stuff from there to counterpoint).
Also tanks are pretty much useless, as you point it out. AI will always go for squishy meatbags first, which in a way makes the AI smart, but....game wise, it makes the tank useless really. Now, they might have a "taunt" skillbook later in the game, bc i didnt find it in act 1, but the book should be early game. (And it should bypass armor as well obv, otherwise no bloody point of even adding that book).
