I do agree it might be nice for there to be a "feeling" of characters having personality during exploration. However, I think there might be a bit too much that can go wrong in terms of companions triggering traps, etc, for this to be implemented in a manner you'd be satisfied with.
Companions triggering traps is classic D&D in my experience, not opposed to that at all. And exactly the kind of risks you could run by opting for the convenience of less busywork.
I understand it would need to be handled well or it could do more harm to the game than good though. I think it’s a good direction to push in for ‘next gen’ CRPG experiences. I’ll be interested to see what Dragon Age 4 brings to the table.
