Obviously the reason the game doesn't have a "proper" pause is that it's designed to be multiplayer-friendly.

Nothing they couldn't work their way around if they wanted (i.e. allow pausing when it's a single player game and not in multi) but I'm somehow skeptic they will ever bother.

Party control in Baldur's Gate 3 is a complete mess that begs to be addressed. SAY NO TO THE TOILET CHAIN