Why was that decision made? Is Lae'zel meant to seem more capable and competent than me there?
Short answer: Yes. She's one of Larian's Mary-Sues that they love more dearly than any other aspect of the game, and who are written to be the winners of every conversation, no matter the angle. They always have the last word on your character, they always know more than your character, they always have the upper hand on your character. Your character is always the fall-person, the dumb-person, and the fool that exist primarily to let them act more awesome or edgy, or to be talked down to or corrected. You never get to answer back or show them up; the game is designed that way. The only time your character is permitted to have the upper hand or the last word in any conversation are the conversations that have clearly been designed with it in mind that you might actually be playing one of *their* characters instead of your own. This, too, is by design.
