About DAO: this is a game that was designed as a spiritual successor for bg3. It's only conjecture, but I think there only two reason it wasn't bg3 - 1. licenceing issues - bioware didn't have the rights for BG at the time. 2. Bioware's desire for independence - at the time bioware created two settings, DAO's settings and Mass Effect's. They did it because they didn't want to be constrained by limitations they didn't create for themselves.
About POE - I honestly never finished the first game. It was just super boring. I did finish deadfire and enjoyed it very much. However, I really don't think the story is as unique and innovative as people say. The gods angle is something BG did, and did it much better.
About bg3 and whether it is a true successor - the gist of it is that it is too early to tell. And anyway, I'll say it again - the greatness of BG games doesn't stem from rtwp, day night cycle, or the number of optional races. These things are part of it, but alone they wouldn't have been the stuff of legend that is the BG saga. But that's just me and my priorities as a player.
