I don't see the starting equipment as a problem.
Yep, I’m in this camp too. I don’t mind if it takes me a while to find equipment or items that suit my character, and would even go so far as to say I like having a build up to it. And being stuck with sub-optimal gear to begin with would potentially give some additional motivation to explore in the early game, eg to break into the ruins to find resources as Shadowheart still suggests if we don’t free her from her pod.
Admittedly, it’s a bit odd to wake up carrying stuff that my character wouldn’t have used, but like others I’d be perfectly happy if I just started with no weapons (or even items) at all and had to find them as I went. Obviously that wouldn’t make sense in every starting scenario, but being snatched by mindflayers makes it not unreasonable.
