Yeah, that gender popup and the rule change was the big analogue back with BG 1/BG 2, since it used 2nd Edition. Previous AD&D games (goldbox) used 1st edition rules that had a lower maximum strength for female characters than for male ones. There are certain sites on the internet were they probably still complain about that change.
I don't find the criticism valid, since not everything goes in the world - they just have very different prejudices and social standards. There are definitely in play with Tieflings and Goblins.
If anything, I think BG 3 has too little social commentary except being quietly accepting of diversity. Taking people just existing as some sort of political grandstanding, is just strange to me. Arcanum and the union/worker rights stuff was pretty fantastic.
