This is my first time seeing this thread, so I'll chime in.
I hate the combat and the only reason I even play this game is because a working AI mod for companions exists.
(P.S. Even the original Baldur's Gate game had rudimentary companion AI at release in 1998 and that's how I played it.)
Counterpoint: the combat (despise a couple of questionable choices Larian made adapting the ruleset) is the absolute highlight of the game.
And "companion AI" in a party-based tactical game is conceptually garbage.
