What is the goal of the people who don't like the game that continue to post on here? There are some that I see who are unhappy with it but still provide constructive feedback to try and help the game grow to satisfy their wants. Then there are others who just want to say negative things and talk about how bad everything is.
Do you think you are going to convince people who like the game to stop liking it? Much like the ones who herald the game, they will apparently never get you to enjoy what has been provided. Continuing to linger is simply toxic and unproductive.
As far to the OP, I am not overly researched in old forgotten realms references. My first interaction was pools of radiance gold box edition. It is hard to translate those games to this one's world. I also played NWN, but if anything it comes across like a generic fantasy setting.
What I do like is references to historical events like the druids and the harpers, or the camp fire at the top of the mountain outside the druid grove that has a harper cache in it.
I only recently started playing bg1 and I noticed a fan favorite is minsc and his hamster. Only then did I get the reference to the space hamster in the book of creatures found in the druid grove. Honestly I feel minsc and boo are over rated and too slapstick for me, but I know a lot of people love them. That and the one character that randomly screams "stop touching me" in a high pitched annoying voice....makes me want to mute the game.