removed deliberately because someone thought it was better this way
Most cuts are because they were unfinished and unpolished things, not because its better without those ideas. Just like Act 3 is still largely unpolished with lots of things feeling rushed and incomplete with severe lack of reactivity from companions. I dont know how you can say your experience wouldnt be improved if there was more companion content with more interactivity/reactivity.
As for origins you actually miss out on the things that people find most appealing about them - acting, performances. Them being companions give you opportunity to really understand who they are, at which point you realize that as origin 90% of offered dialogue options you get are totally out of character for those characters. Its not like in Witcher, where all dialogue options make sense for Geralt more or less.
