I don't know much about the story, because I never succeed play much of ME1, but the encyclopedia is THE worst, tedious, pale, boring texts I ever read and I read ton of book crap when I was younger.
But well when I tried played it some years ago, I certainly focused too much on this, the story itself could not be that bad. I tried two times recently played it again, but just couldn't find the fun keys in the shooting elements. And the interface feels so much like a crap, and controlling the companion is a sort of mystery for me. I'm sure there's something I don't see, to enjoy more the shooting and the companions but well it stuck me this time.
That's a very very bad new that DAO2 will be a ME2 like, I hope it won't stop me find the fun keys.