While I agree that we hit max level too fast, I can't imagine how Larian would be able to make this game work with no level cap. I am also pretty sure that the work necessary to raise the level cap is something they have been clear they will not be doing for the game post release. As far as items go, are you judging this based entirely on items from act 1?
What do you consider halfway through the game? Because I'm usually entering act 3 at level 9ish, depending on what I did during that playthrough. Even if you consider the end of act 2 to be halfway, I think it's impossible to legitimately be level 12 at that point.
As far as watching on youtube goes, that's never going to be the same. First, there are too many things that you won't see just watching random cutscenes. Mostly, though, you'll never experience seeing the outcome of choices your character makes. That's the whole point of roleplaying. And if that isn't important to you then I'm honestly unsure why you would play an rpg to begin with.
