"So the question is, what will bring in actual D&D fans? "
Baldur's Gate was originally a gift I received from a fellow D&D player and relative, who had read that it was a pretty good computer simulation of a D&D campaign. Were it not for the good press and a release date in time for Christmas, I probably never would have even seen it. The long term attraction to me was that I finally I got the chance to play out some high level adventures, try some 9th level spells, Drow areas, etc. that I had read so much about but never experienced in a table-top session. And there is still much more to go! If the goal is really to attract a large segment of D&D players, I would suggest one way is to connect with some of the classic D&D modules ... Keep on the Borderlands, Tomb of Horrors, Steading of the Hill Giant Chief, visit the City of Brass, Village of Hommlet, Land Beyond the Magic Mirror, and so on. If you've got the D&D franchise, use it, eh?
But I will also say this, EA is just not for me. As much as I would love to help the developers, I really do not enjoy playing unfinished games.
