Yeah, I've also wondered why Larian is ambivalent about certain gimmicks. On the one hand, they're into fun actions like explosive barrels, shove-ping-pong and the like, but on the other hand, they've missed great opportunities to implement DnD's own fun mechanics, if you want to call them that, which are simply predestined for the Larian style of fun.
I'm thinking of spells like Snare, Rope Trick, Pyrotechnics, Vortex Warp and all the cantrips like Prestidigitation, Mold Earth etc. pp.
