Yes, and that is an issue in BG3 as well: there is not much of a "build up" leading to these enemies, e.g. a multilevel dungeon like Durlag's Tower. It is just made more visible in WotR because there are more trash mobs everywhere, and in BG3 those trash mobs consist of goblins, while in WotR they also consist of demons.
Edit: I think it is also why auntie Ethel is so memorable. Meeting her in the grove and on the road, Mayrina's quest, the sunlands / swamp, the folk in the lair with their own backstories - all this before the big fight. And you also can try to kill her before, and then the conversations change. By comparison the minotaurs: seems like they have been placed there just to attack the party.
