But P'n'P RPGing isn't static. It has evolved (or devolved depending on your viewpoint) from its roots as an exotic offshoot of tabletop wargamming, and CRPGs have (d)evolved with it. For example, in the '70s and '80s static classes were the norm. There was no opportunity to allocate points on level up. Now custom builds are the norm (although JRPGs still favour the static model).
There's also the schism between 'power-gaming' (gaming the rules, 'cause, well … it's actually a game) and 'role-playing' (playing amateur dramatics 'cause, well … only dorks play games). In the '70s and first half of the '80s everyone was what is now termed a 'power-gamer'. Now there are many who argue that 'power-gaming' not "real roleplaying". Bioware is a classic example of that schism translated to CRPGs. They've gone the interactive (teenage fan-)fiction route rather than the, well … developing an actual game route. Personally I like a bit of both in harmony, like the Baldur's Gate games, rather than one extreme (e.g. Diablo) or the other (everything Bioware has developed since NWN).
Anyhow, to me, "The End of BioWare as a Traditional RGP Creator" is a gigantic red herring. I simply can't imagine modren Bioware developing a good RPG of any stripe. Their products are slash fan-fic where the burning issue for hardcore fans is not that the rule system is a poorly conceived pile-of-crap-where-cone-of-cold-auto-wins-every-battle, but the fact that their male PC can't cop off with Alistair.