For what it's worth, I agree with the OP. I strongly dislike Larian's map design and have done so since the D: OS games.
Personally, I'd have prefered an overland/world map with separate locations which would have felt much better and would have allowed for short random encounters. BG3's approach doesn't really give you any feel of distance at all when Moonhaven (Blighted Village) is literally just 500 m from the druid grove. It just feel immersive and believable that way.
