Just in case you missed it, there is an existing thread that's pushed back a bit where people discuss this: This doesn't feel like a Baldur's Gate game (or D&D). The Story & Character discussion board also has some topics covering the handling of characters from the original games, I believe.

Also, I understand that what you copied was long and you didn't want to retype it but you may [Act 3 Spoilers]:
want to edit the language used to describe the Emperor's identity. I know that sort of colorful description is seen as fine on Steam but I'm not so sure it'll fly here.

Though, I don't disagree - it's one of my major gripes with the character and something I hope that is undone, but I'm not exactly counting on it.

In general, I think what Count Turnipsome said really sums it up well - "BG3 is a beautifully made game for the newer gaming generation." The era that BG3 was released in is quite different from that of BG1/2, and I think that a lot of the differences between the games is moreso a reflection of that than anything else. Not just cRPGs or gaming, but what's popular in general really seems to have shifted. I totally get not liking it and wanting to air grievances, and maybe even laying it at Larian's feet that they didn't "stay true to the originals" and opted to chase popular appeal.

I guess I've maybe just made peace with the fact that my preferences appear to have fallen into a minority - BG3 is very popular and complaints like these not so much. For example, as part of that shift in what's popular - super heroes and larger than life personalities and stories are very "in", which I think you can easily see within BG3. Personally, I love an RPG that isn't quite so fantastic, though I didn't exactly have any expectations that BG3 would be closer to such a preference given that it starts level 1 characters off on a spelljammer.

I'll also add to the sentiment that I'm a little confused why Larian seems to have gunned so hard to make *the* next Baldur's Gate game. I believe that if you look up past statements by Swen, it seems to maybe have been a goal of his, perhaps since the founding of Larian?, to one day be able to have the privilege of being the studio to stand on the shoulders of giants. But, it ultimately feels as though it was moreso chasing after the name than anything else. Having to work within the confines of an established IP appears to me to have limited Larian from what they wanted to do more than anything else, so I hope they take the money earned from BG3's popularity and have the room to "be themselves".