I think DA2 knew what it wanted to be, EA just decided to not let Bioware have the time or manpower to do it.
I personally think that it still has the best overarching story, environ and atmosphere in the series so far, and (controversial opinion) I LIKED that I played as Hawke. The Warden and the Inquisitor are the typical "thrown into a world changing even they have tenuous connections to", and feel a degree removed from anything but the main event sometimes.
But Hawke? They are in the thick of it. Does not matter what class Hawke is, my guy/girl is going through it at every (repeated dungeon) stage of the game. I honestly felt more for Hawke in my playthrough of DA2 than my personal avatars in Origin and Inquisition. Kirkwall sucks soooo bad, man.
The more reflection I give it the better DA2 is and the worse Inquisition is. DAO was a good turn based with pause of its era but it was 2 that was the best. My biggest problems with 2 are that it wasn’t finished (I want the Sera it was supposed to have not the one inquisition gave dammit) and Isabella’s lack of survivability/force mage just sucking. Meanwhile Inquisition fucking attempted to rehabilitate Cullen… and it had no Isabella or Merrill
You get it. I agree with all of your complaints (but another unpopular opinion, I didn't mind Sera we got lol)
Inquisition is actually my least favourite in the series, and I hate the pivot to hyperfocus on the "super special elves" and getting the most out of the story ONLY if you play a specific type of elf. I'm also not absolutely gaga for Varric (I like him, I just don't think he should be everywhere). I felt really fatigued by the end of the game tbh.