Yea, it really is a considerably less exciting system. I love the open world of BG1, but BG2 was still a good compromise. There’s something really immersive about knowing that you can go wherever you want and do whatever you want. That the scary dragon is there waiting for you, all the time, always at fixed strength. Because why shouldn’t he be? He lives in that world just as much as you do. The sense of urgency was beautifully handled in the beginning of BG2 as well, because every quest that you do, no matter how random, helps you gather that gold you need to progress the main story.
The act system of DOS is just less interesting in every single way. You can still have chapters, like BG2, and have some areas locked behind those, but the freedom of travel is necessary for creating the impression of a living, breathing world.
But as other people said; no surprises here.
