Well that is interesting and I like it, I have nothing against that my proble with BG1 is with some of its mechanics, like resting, or all the traps, I also have the feeling the they miss much more the attacks compared to BG2 and the pacing is also a problem, the characters travelling on foot is very slow for my taste. I don't know if Athlaka had something like that reactivity you mention, I believe it didn't, I ignored most of the people withouth a proper noun so I don't know if normal citizen had good information, the I spoke with just said information about the city and its people. When I think of Athlaka I remember mostly receiving and doing quests and resting in Copper Coronet honestly. But the ones (quests) I can remember were good or entertaining or interesting at least, for example one quest for a companion were you had to go to another plane of existence, or the one you had to investigate a religious sect. Both games have good things I guess.Dramart Thefactionspower groups within the city respond to youYou meet a representative of the thieves guild (who you later discover represents another organisation), then you've got the two power groups that respond to whichever pair of companions you have in your party, then there's another two shadowy information dealers that you can meet in certain inns, and tell you what happened while you were away. The citizens respond to the events taking place. I'm pretty sure the rumours in the inns do as well. The fact that you can get a smuggler to smuggle you into the city was a great touch. The Flaming Fist was out to get you.being labelled as murderers of the iron throne leaders
That's the point: all these little touches here and there built the world. Even the average citizen you meet had relevant information for you: on your first visit to BG there was that guy that owed money to the Seven Suns, or the Iron Throne; and he mentions that the trader avoided him instead of paying thugs to break his kneecaps.
You could even uncover important information by going to the fortune teller in the circus area.
That's what builds a game world for me. You could tell BG was a labour of love. In comparison, what did you get when you returned to Athkatla? Just visiting each of the power groups to aid you in a big battle ahead if I remember correctly.
BG2 > BG1