The most important thing, which DA:O shares with Mass Effect, is that it gives the player an illusion that choices matter. That dopamine effect, together with a good but mostly linear story, and interesting companion characters, is a recipe for success with many people, like me. I mostly only play it once, rarely replay, so the illusion of choice isnt as easily ruined.

And companions is a big comparable thing between DA:O and BG3. Larian has really focused on that in this game, so of course it would make people compare it to DA.

I don't get it either, I liked the main plot in DA:O but most of the game is dealing with some big side quests that have next to nothing to do with it.

I don't remember having many big decisions either, a few characters might die but it doesn't really matter in the end.