There is no judgement in quality of content by saying something is more build like DOS than BG (quality lies in the execution not these decisions themselves). You just look at it from your experience and if you like it more or not, it doesn't change the fact that there is a reasoning in doing it one way or the other. I even wrote for what they are going for it makes more sense with the system they have in place for maps, still the result is a extremely gamey experience that is closer to DOS than it is to BG/DA:O.
Edit: on a side note the level scaling thread was not just about level scaling, but also enemy design and usage, which is tided to the encounter and map design. Also neither the enemies nor the companions nor the story itself lend themselves as 'origin stories' going from nobody to hero - that's probably one of the biggest complaints in that thread and regarding the companions overall. A very stark difference to BG1 and DAO - even though DAO didn't even have you starting out as a nobody, as neither game mechanics nor story were designed in that way.
Just noticed your edit, and I'll say this, before going to bed: when I say nobody, I'm thinking like some poor elf in the alienage or urchin off the street (DAO and BGIII) or a casteless dwarf or some petty criminal (again DAO and BGIII), not someone who sprung into existence from nowhere, but someone who's station in life was so low that they most people didn't know or care about their existence. (I am of course speaking of custom characters).
As to level scaling and the origin stories, I believe Wyll said he thought that the tadpole was interfering with our skills and abilities somehow. He does say that he's been feeling weak since his abduction at least, which would explain starting at level one. There is in-story justification for why all the characters, no matter how highly experienced, are scaled to your level, even if they should logically be higher.
