Yea that update built some serious hype for me as well. I really hope the conversation mechacs turn out to be really impactfull and fun. I enjoyed that part of DA:O greatly.
Yeah I was thinking about Dragon Age Origins too! Really liked the meaningful companions in that game, made you more immersed and invested in the story. I was excited by the fact that they said that party dynamics will have an important role and that not everyone will get along, looking forward to seeing how these friendships and relationships will impact our adventurers.
Not sure if it is possible or that it would even be a good idea but it would be interesting to see party members develop their own friendships and/or relationships and then give the player's character the ability to react. Maybe the player's character is suspicious about Astarion's origins (being a vampire spawn) and what his intent with Shadowheart is for example and could confront him out of concern or jealousy.