I think most of the game difficulty issues can be laid squarely at Larian's non compliance with 5e - including dropping multi-classing requirements. Already the rogue/paladin played here would not be allowed (needs dex, str, cha >= 13 - and the more you dip into MC the more cumbersome these requirements become, as they should). Also, a rogue/paladin is very overpowered due to sneak smite etc - and that is the fault of 5e.... BUT Larian's changes (BA projectile shove, scroll use for all, potions - esp haste - all over, BA potion drink, overpowered magic etc) are, imo, the main cause of (lack of) difficulty issues. A 5e core rule setting would help - but there's still too much stuff around. Are there mods that *remove* consumables and magic items from world and encounters? But it' s more than this - the ability to switch on TB-mode, freeze time, do what you want, position, attack - with no enemy zone perceptions checks - is stupendously unreasonable and a design failure of note. All these issues were raised countless times during EA - and nothing happened.
I also agree that foreknowledge is exceptionally powerful, so these playthroughs need to be taken with a pinch of salt...that said, Larian should have at least required a high skill check to get enemy stats + info. Handing it out for free is just stupid and cheap. PF:Km/WotR did this well - and Solasta too for that matter. How would you know this info in game, automatically?
