What's the point of playing an early access if it is not to feel engaged with the game's developmment ?
Sure they patched the game and "listenned" to players feedback, but reaction was in exemple a VERY HOT topic during 3 years.
It wouldn't have hurt them to keep us updated a bit even if it was just by saying something like "we are still thinking about reactions".
You mean like
this? ^^
And if I recall correctly they even said during some PFH around the very end of it that they were working on reactions and playing around with systems, but that it is not ready yet. I think it was around Patch 7 to 8.
But ultimately this award is not about the player keeping track of which company speaks the most, but rather quite simple; how they treat their game and whether us as a player are happy with it.
As I said Larian lacks on the communication part (not for EA to me, but other reasons), but what they lack in communication they make up for in action. They delivered on what they promised and keep giving even more than promised. And the results speak for themselves. It is a massive success, it is overwhelmingly positively accepted and loved by many. So clearly they are doing something right for their community, for us.
Unfortunately cannot please everyone, but that is why other nominees exist if a player is not pleased.