My main gripe with PoE2 (and the later Elder Scrolls games too) was that the urgency of the main plot detracts from the freedom of exploration and the flow of faction and side quests. Morrowind was great about this: you get to Caius Cosades and he tells you to go do other things before he gives you your first orders. There are a few other stopping off points in the main story too. It makes the faction quests and just taking your time exploring make so much more sense.