I actually find the whole concept of comapnions waiting around a camp whilst you swan off rather odd anyway. It already grates in Act 1 when you tell Lae'zel (who is intent in fining a creche) to sit and wait in camp, why would she? She has been ultra bossy and commited since moment 1 and now she just does as told? It's narratively odd. At least the dialogue (or narration) should make it clearer why.
If the narrator made it clear that her thoughts were to begrudgingly accept because she realised alone she doesn't stand a chance, then that's fine, right now, it feels weird that these companions sit around with what they believe to be a ticking time bomb in their heads.
So from that perspective I see no reason for people to hang around, i.e. a form of commitment makes sense, be it based upon how you have "behaved" (i.e. alignment based), or out of a character's need (maybe Gael is clingy or too egotisitcal and it's take me or I leave), whatever, but I think it makes sense that not everyone would just always be there, even if it is just for the purpose of gameplay. At least up until the point in Act1 I have played to, you are not a leader, a hero, messiah character, you are a party and people will follow as long as their needs are met, but if not, they should go.
Not to say you won't cross paths again later on, in fact that to me adds more intruige to the story. How would their lives turn out if we didn't stay together?!
That's not to say I don't only want the party of 4 (or 5/6 should that increase), but if a story reason can be found for a "camp", where stragglers reside, then I am equally fine for some to hang around, I just don't want them all there.
Lastly on the CAMP, I am not that far into Act1 addmitedly, but resting whilst in a dungeon or cave and then resting, brings up the generic outdoor camp, once done I am where I left off, back in said Dungeon. I appreciate the gameplay aspect, but it breaks the immersion for me. in BG1/2 you had to leave certain locations before you rest.
I believe the game would benefit from an immersion aspect if only short rests were permitted in cave areas, for anything longer you have to go back outside (or the camp as a whole has to be moveable), then there is just the question why aren't people "in camp" at your side in a larger party.
So yes, I appreciate wanting spells back etc... but I would like a better way of handling this (short of a magical scroll of teleportation each time
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