Most of the conversation choices you can walk in and have a companion that is better at persuasion or insight take over the conversation and it still progresses. There are times you don't know though or there are different skill checks as you continue to conversation tree, so it does just seem easier to have a balanced main character and flavor companions.
What I noticed so far in EA is that for maximum AC you want medium armor wearing scale mail armor +1 (15 ac) and +2 in dex (17 ac), or studded leather +1 (13 ac) with +4 in dex (17 ac) for light armor. Then a shield (+2 ac) and shield of faith (+2 ac) to get you up to 21ish ac.
Clothing only gets up to 14ac on it's own wtih +4 in dex, then mage armor ups you to 17 ac, then if you go for it you can get a shield and shield of faith to get 21 ac again.
Heavy armor can only get 16 flat, then shield and shield of faith get you 20ac.
So if you want to maximize stats, choose how deep in dex you go based on armor type. If you have +0 or negative in dex, just wear heavy armor, otherwise try to aim for at least 18-19 ac buffed, unless you want to go all in because you are using dex for your combat stat as well.
Then prioritize your combat attribute for chance to hit and added damage.
Then your constitution.
Then cha/int/wis for social and adventure skills.
Out of that there should be a stat or two you are willing to sacrifice as a dump to get the rest to something effective.
