The suggestion I had in mind involves both making this particular area more "true"(tm) and "immersive"(tm) and simply making the game's ruleset closer to the PHb while still retaining the changes Larian wanted to introduce - it's the implementation of the Grapple mechanic and making it useable as a tool to carry around things that won't exactly fit in a character's inventory. It's already a missing combat option that adds to the tactical arsenal of martial classes who otherwise are really lacking in variety compared to spellcasters unless they are a subclass that comes with some interesting tricks and moves, and if it was used to carry around barrels and chests and such, it'd have an interesting "Larianese" twist on top of its usual function and introduce a decision into the much hated "barrelmancy" approach - sure, you can use barrels, but you'd have to carry them in your hands, limiting your mobility and stopping you from abusing them, thus making each barrel-heavy area more localized as a combat encounter instead of a trove of explosives to plunder and use in more difficult battles.
I think a lot of us would love to have a more realistic barrels option. I have been wanting something like this since I first heard of the barrel cheese.
It's perfectly fine to carry ten short swords, five crossbows, six quarterstaffs, five sets of leather armor, a set a scale mail, two greatswords, and twelve goblin short bows, but picking up a barrel is a step too far?
On one hand, I get that some people think the barrels are "cheesy," but on the other hand I don't care.
Personally, I don't use the barrels. Not because I don't want to, but because I have this problem where I'm always trying to save them for the next big fight. So, I never get around to using them. Same with potions and scrolls and such. I'm trying to force myself to use this stuff more; otherwise, it all goes to waste.
Anyway. I find the barrels interesting, just like I find the terrain interesting. It makes the combat much more dynamic than the old: I run up and hit. I hit again. I hit again. Instead, the battlefield itself becomes much more important, much more alive.
I accept that some of you don't like the barrels. But trying to get them out of the game so I can't enjoy them is annoying.
I would like to see the AI use the barrels more efficiently. I once had an imp blow up a nautiloid tank to cause me damage. I thought that was great. I'd like to see more of that. Not necessarily in every battle location, but peppered throughout fights. Some of the enemies have to be smart enough to consider using these powerful explosives to their advantage.
I would like to have a more realistic carryweight and backpack storage option. The issues I have with barrels is that they should be carried only since they are so large, and npcs should comment on you moving their furniture around in front of them then attack if you don't stop. Not asking for your barrels to be removed from the game, just asking for a menu option so I can enjoy them as well, right now they are too stupid.
Realism is SHIT most of times. Imagine your character crafting, building something, then he must stop for urinate or poo. Very, very funny (sarcasm). Or even better (worse), you must make a check or get depression, fail the check and you cannot do anything.
Realism is great a lot of times, is why there are so many survival modes for different games. Bodily functions are already in another game I play, SCUM. This is not a pain at all, you just have to remember to go like in rl before you do something important. Mental states may very well be added before release, there will soon be a better metabolism and injury system than the current one.