Given having a deity tag opens dialogue options, it's sort of essential in RP to have the choice for you character?
Otherwise unless you're a cleric, the game doesn't let you have a relationship with a deity or even a preference?

as for earlier BG games, sure but ToEE did, other D&D games of the same era did.

Minthara is the best character and she NEEDS to be recruitable if you side with the grove!
Also- I support the important thread in the suggestions: Let everyone in the Party Speak