I definitely agree that it was EA pushing them to release it too quickly that was the problem, there were really good things about the game. And honestly, I was pretty pleased with ME 3, and MOST of the issues I did have with it were addressed with the Extended Cut (and plus, Citadel DLC made me happy). It does seem like they are taking a lot of the criticism to heart, and trying to find a nice balance between DA:O and DA 2, and it has the potential to be outstanding. I am preordering. DA 2 didn't let me down nearly as much as it did some others.
And DA:O ultimate is $5.99!
http://www.dealzon.com/deals/dragon-age-2?ref=deal_newsletter#dragon-age-origins-ultimate-edition-pc
I played DA:2 first and loved it so much I bought Origins and played that.
I don't see why people hate DA2 so much, I think it's the best one out of the two of them. The combat is so much better, the characters too, and the main character actually has a voice! It adds so much more to the game, I think. I just hate you can't pick to be an elf or dwarf (if no one realises, elves are my favourite in everything). But I like the characters in DA2 more than in Origins. Alistair is the only one I like in Origins, whereas DA2 I love Isabela, Fenris, Anders, and Varric equally. But mostly Isabela (shhh).
But definitely get Origins, and then DA2, and then Inquisition, and love them all!!! Bioware has a knack for creating amazing games.
Now I want to play Mass Effect again.
EDIT: I FORGOT ABOUT ZEVRAN I AM SO BAD Zevran is an angel
I don't hate DA2! Unlike you, I just think that it was In the Mass Effect sense, a little disappointing. I guess for me it's a bit like having the finale of a fireworks display at the start rather than at the end. The later fireworks are still worth watching but not quite as impressive. I'm holding out hope for a much improved DA3 though and looking forward to playing it (assuming my pc meets the minimum requirements)
I have one criticism in an RPG sense of DAO and it is in the Awakening expansion. I think you should only be playing that as a human as you do in DA2. The reason for that has to do with the politics and culture of Ferelden