Well, I'd prefer a game, too where I can play a diplomate. Twisted plots, trying to find out who's behind it, whom to turn to, whom to trust, entwining plots, making alliances - simple killing/clicking is too boring and simpleminded for me to give me a real game atmosphere. This is what fascinated me about BG 1, constant tries to kill my char and no clue why. The way the plot slowly developed, kept me glued to the game. I remember, I went to work, my mind was still on the game and I rushed home to delve into it. I didn't have this fascination in BG 2 - and the romances were boring for me, I'd have rather turned them off.
Maybe a cultural difference? Some like it nice and easy, want to relax and find this in click-killing, others like me prefer to relax and use my brain cells? But I'm coming from the adventure side and am accustomed to this approach.
Violence seems to be propagated as a very easy method to "solve" everything, not only in games but in every part of the mass media, including RL news on TV. Use magic or muscles, the result is killing.
And sorry, DEATH, I didn't like Arcanum, same goes for Morrowind or PT. I was very disappointed by IWD, reacted the same way as you, Alrik: Didn't finish it, bored me. I liked BG 1 more than BG 2. And IWD2? Is sleeping on my hard drive at the moment. IIRC, I'm in the last chapter or 2nd last.
Maybe I've played too many games - maybe the same concept is repeated over and over again... I don't know. I miss genre plurality.
Kiya