Classes built around short rest mechanics, like fighters and warlocks, will not get a chance to shine unless there are 2-4 short rests per long rest and the long rest mechanic based folks, like wizards and clerics, have no reason to think much about managing their resources with only one, or no short rests before a long rest. These kind of things are balanced by the DM in a DnD 5e live game, on the fly, with regard to tension and pacing. This is, obviously, a difficult thing in a CRPG and it may be that Larian's solution of one short rest is what they believe is a good balance, alongside the other changes they have made (like food is healing). In my opinion, if there must be a fixed number of short rests, 2 is that number.
OP's assessment and ideas all seem sound as do some of the suggestions so far and I hope that the Larian Devs find it food for thought.
