Don't really agree. The game shouldn't actively encourage metagaming.
This is not an encouragement of metagaming, but a reaction to it. It should be, because many players will want to see "what if ..." and should see something. It will definitely be, given the replay value of the game.
The reaction can be in the form of secret content, Easter eggs, punishment, breaking the fourth wall, whatever.
This is how I took it, too. I think the original set of events is the intended course that sets the tone of your character - considering what you get out of it. Personally I think it is a great and important scene.
On the other hand, it was really nice to have an acknowledgement of what I was trying to do in the end. Larian has always put a focus on finding ways that players might break their games, and then instead of "fixing" them they add an acknowledgement that echo "We're going to allow this, but we know what you did. Here's a small reward for finding this.". Their previous titles are full of acknowledging unintended outcomes - It is a feature of their work I find really valuable.
I don't really agree with the pushback on this pivotal plot moment, though.
- Astarion is a vampire. No matter what you choose in the game this is an immutable fact that your party has no choice but to contend with.
- Durge is *you know*. No matter what you choose in the game this is an immutable fact that your party has no choice but to contend with.
- Gale is *you know*, and blah blah blah
You are given a lot of leeway with how you approach things, but origin characters have always had set in stone traits that you can't budge. Durge is NOT Tav+, it's an origin story that comes with its own beautifully dysfunctional baggage - just like the rest of the cast.
