I like the way it is now.
You can play as you want and you can level up companions as you want.
In other games, often you stick with the companions you meet first because you can level them up manually from the start and they often have a higher level than the chars you meet later, when you meet other chars.
If party members are leveled up to your level when you find them you get the game "collect all companions while keeping your level as low as possible".
In BG1+2 I chose which chars I want, collected them ASAP and sticked with the same group until the end.
I used other chars only for their personal quest.
Not sure if this is the those games should be played.
Prof. Dr. Dr. Mad S. Tist
World leading expert of artificial stupidity.
Because there are too many people who work on artificial intelligence already
