[...] if this is a Larian design principle more than an oversight. Maybe they like players being able to break the game for "player agency" or whatnot?
Yes.
Larian loves letting players find ways to break the game (see
57:35 to 59:11). It's part of their philosophy in general, and probably part of their vision for BG3. People are free to ask Larian to change their vision, but I doubt Larian will heed those calls (of course, it would have been more efficient if they had communicated more clearly on this, but ... they haven't).
