There certainly should be the ability to swap from 2 hander to 1 hander and shield, or from single weapon to dual weapon. Should also be able to swap between a slash weapon set up to a bash set- up as different damage types are needed for different critters. I always enjoyed games where this was somewhat class based - a fighter build should have the ability to switch to more sets than a mage type for example, based upon skill and familiarity with weaponry. Often this class distinction was further buttressed by feats granting additional weapon set slots.
Something along the lines of fighters - 4 slots, mages 2 slots, thieves/clerics 3 slots (perhaps some additional variety via sub -class). If I recall correctly, many games such as BG1/2, PoE, DA and others made use of similar features.
That was my memory too. That in the UI of the old BGs only pure fighters types had the 4 quick slots for their weapons. They also slipped in some UI compromises that had to be made if you wanted to multi or dual class, where part of the price you had to pay was somewhat trickier tab management as a little trade off. UI interpetation is one of those things where I think they can reasonably get away with a few things perhaps not strictly by the book, just to make each class type feel a little more unique. Certainly if that were the case it'd be nice to see the fighters get some love by being able to save out more quickslots for weapons sets or something similar. For right now the hotbar feels like a bit of a free for all and class archetypes each treated basically the same way.
I think the decision to use only the hotbar as the entire spellcasting interface is more than a little problematic for this stuff (among other things.) Right now the main character, equipment, and inventory tabs feel pretty overlapping, sort of reduntant and sometimes counter intuitive in terms of how they work or what they're meant to do exactly. Sort of like having 3 tabs to do the same sort of stuff but where none of them can really handle it. Not that I miss the tetris juggling mind, but I sort of struggle with Larian's version of the game tabs, and especially the inventory/equipment tabs.
I wish the hotbar type bars had a more clearly defined use, and sort of wish each class had a bit more flair there like the old BG games.
I remember being pretty excited the first time dual wielding was introduced as a thing. Or later in NWN where you could set a quick switch for sword/shield or dual wielding or ranged on the fly. Without having to open the inventory screen and muddle around. That felt like "yeah, now we're talking! QoL" So it stings a bit trying to do this sort of stuff out the inventory tab again or char tab (which oddly feels more the place to deal with changing out and readying equipment, than the tab actually called "equipment.") Anyhow, fair points I think.
