I personally want D&D 5e the video game. I understand Larian may not have the technical ability to do that. They may not have the desire to do that. Regardless, I and others like me want this for the most part. Some don't I suppose. But there is a demand for it to whatever degree that is. There are however some things to consider. Whatever game Larian makes these things will still apply.
Some people want to control the way others play a game. Some demand a Dark Souls level of difficulty. Others want something slightly more difficult than Candy Crush. Every game has the ability to do this. It is why so many games have easy/normal/hard settings. It is simple to do... Some hate the minotaurs because they aren't D&D 5e minotaurs. They are Larian minotaurs painted to be D&D 5e. Some hate that Larian's minotaurs are too difficult. Some like to brag about how easy it is. The fact is there are choices by Larian that could have been made to appease most everyone. And it depends on what Larian was trying to get out of the encounter.
1) The encounter wasn't hard enough so they put 2 minotaurs there. Modified the stats & abilities. Gave one a magic item. They could have simply made D&D 5e minotaurs and added more up to the difficulty level. Or they could have added secondary monsters. Perhaps a darkelf enchanter who is bespelling them to give them the extras. Hidden darkelf casts Jump on one. Blade ward on another.
1a) They wanted the cool look of minotaurs but them to be special. You can make them special without trying to pass them off as traditional. Tried & true tactic of giving them a name and/or titles.
Simple way to signify that these aren't traditional minotaurs. Then you can change them to your heart's desire. Call them mini-bosses.
Point is they were changed from core minotaurs and passed off as traditional when they did not need to be. There were options to remain true to D&D 5e and still do whatever it is Larian wanted.
And this example applies to the rest of the game. You can remain true to the source material and still make it different. You just need to improvise and be creative about it. The minotaur encounter was nothing more than a disregard for the source material with the justification it is just "based off of it". When it didn't need to be.
Options.
Loaded dice is one of my favorite options Larian has added to the game. Not for my own personal preferences. But because it provides full spectrum options. Hard core or normal players can simply toggle it off. People who like it easier or less aggravating can toggle it on. This technique can literally be applied to nearly every aspect of the game. When Larian decides they need to change the tried and true rules of D&D 5e they could instead simply offer a toggle feature. I am told Larian has altered the balance of the rules by changing the Sorcerers metamagic quicken spell to 3 sorcerer points instead of 2. For whatever reason they decided to make that feature harder. When instead they should have left it at 2 and given players the option to make it 3 citing Larian logic balancing. There are current in game features that are not only unbalanced but down right game breaking ie Barrelmancy and Wizard spell scroll learning. The difference... and why I hate the quicken spell change but am okay with the other two. 1 is heavy-handed telling me how I HAVE to play the game. The other two are completely optional and I can simply not do them if I chose. But have the luxury or option to if I want to.
Freedom of choice is a massive decider for me. When you force your balance altering things on me I am chained to your will. When you make them optional I am free to yoda. Do or do not.
I can make the game easier by barrelmancy or wizard spell scroll learning or using loaded dice. Or I can simply ignore them and play how I want. Changing core mechanics gives me no choice.
The point is when you make these decisions Larian... remember that people often don't like being controlled or forced to do things your way as opposed to the core rules. Yet, when you give me the option to play your way... it is a boon. And appreciated. So be wary what you force and generous with what you give. Such as chastising players for playing human despite your "efforts" to add things like Tieflings.
LET US PLAY HOW WE WANT TO PLAY. With options to do other things. And remember you can change the core rules and monsters/abilities without making people think they are core. That is nothing more than some effort and imagination. You could always poll people for options if you find you are dry on ideas.
In the end what product you deliver will decide whether I buy your future products. Give me something as close to D&D 5e with tons of options to play how I want. And I just may end up a Larian loyalist. Dictate to me and try to "mom" me by chastising my choices and forcing me to play the way you want. And I'm likely to avoid you and look elsewhere. Your call.
Overall, the game is fun. But lacking. Such is early access. And that's my feedback.
