I think the secret-keeping doesn't help certainly, but you're right that those lies could be revealing. I think that right now they're not even lying to each other about it, they're just not bringing it up. I fully agree with what you're saying about the conversations not ringing true. It feels more like small talk than anything else most of the time.
I was actually thinking specifically of Wyll when I mentioned current party banter feeling predictable. He's a kinda sleazy womaniser, that's quite predictable and frankly it would have been more surprising if he weren't. Imagine if he were more earnestly interested in what Gith life were like, or Gith training. If he asked about all that training she must have gone through and was impressed by her dedication, dedication he never had to have because he took the easy way. I'm slightly more leneient about our not being able to say things in dialogue based on party banter since that feels like it would be really tricky, but DA:I managed to have two companions engage in a whole romance via banter that was acknowledged by the end of the game in the right circumstanes, so more can be done, it's possible. I'd love having more times like DA:O where in camp we walk in on characters interacting, get to watch them for a bit then interject with our own thoughts.
As for the mysterious knowledge, I think it bothers me because it's yet more opportunities for the party to interact being squandered. That plus those moments were played as intimate things meant to demonstrate the character's trust in Tav. Gale makes a whole big deal about how we earn his trust. But then suddenly it's like "nah, everyone heard, there was no indication of any sort of bond." just another way our Tav really isn't special or meaningful among the group. This also makes me think of more potential banter interactions. Imagine if Wyll actually took issue with Shadowheart being a cleric of Shar and willingly staying amongst that evil. He's still stiking with Minthara because he has an iron-clad contract. Shadowheart could in theory just... leave. Renounce her faith and move on with her life. Obviously it wouldn't actually be that simple but Wyll could believe that it is. Or if Gale commiserated with Astarion over both having to feed terrible hungers in order to survive. Or hell, Gale and Astarion could bond over their fodnness for the finer things in life while the two could in turn clash with Wyll in some way or another because he prefers to be a man of the people. Or he could hav econversations with them that hint that his "man of the people" schtick is actually shallow and he prefers a higher standard of comforts. Larian has a lot of stuff they could work with one way or another. I just hope that come release we get more and the shortage now is down to them not having recorded a lot of party banter yet. Which does make sense since I imagine party banter being a lower priority task.
