Every CRPG since BG2 is unworthy in comparison to BG2. That doesn't mean those games are bad.
BG 1 was better than BG 2. Arcanum, Fallout 1 and 2, PoE 1, DAO, Pathfinder Kingmaker and WORT, BG3 are all better than BG 2. People obsess about BG 2 because of nostalgia, but it was very generic. Lots of content, but the plot was bland and boring honestly. An evil megalomaniac wizard who wants to be god and solves every problem with MAGIC is just bad writing. Sarevok had finesse, he actually used brains and his Iron Crisis intrigue was quite nicely written. Irenicus just used his magical powers to do stuff. The only reason he got so far is because he had so much plot armor every faction that managed to subdue him didn't kill him, but let him live and overpower them with MAGIC later.