The comparison is coherent, Ultima 7 design has many weak design aspects, but it is still a landmark for some aspects. When a RPG tries target those aspects it is looking for a comparison. I honestly won' be able to list all the key aspects of U7, still would know it wouldn't be combats, dungeons nor even outdoor world. It would be more:
1 - NPC living and scheduling
2 - NPC/player party complex interactions
3 - Design sophistication of some quests
4 - High care of many details
5 - Crafting interactions
6 - Companions (in party)
7 - Wide world
DOS1 gave up on the 1 even if it was in their initial plans, and gave up focus much on 6. That said on point 6 U7 has aged quite a lot because of Rip Bioware mainly. And for point 7 they didn't bother try but it's a single scale RPG unlike U7 so it's not really comparable.
But DOS1 definitely developed other aspects quite significantly.
Now from RPG I played it's still Gothic 2 that is unchallenged from being the closest to U7 on those aspects. The crafting is a lot less tricky but it's a major gameplay element. On other points it is sometimes deeper than U7 but overall U7 had more contents.
If I pick Baldur's Gate 1&2:
1 is minimal even if there's some key points in some rare parts.
2 & 4 are no way at same level
3 is more or less comparable, probably inferior, or not.
5 almost non existent
6 they started make U7 dated on that point.
7 Yep
And if I pick Morrowind:
1 benefit of few efforts but it's far to be comparable
2 & 3 & 4 are no way at same level
5 I don't remind so it is probably saying all
6 is non existent
7 Yep as any Bethesda RPG
I played 30% of TW3 so it's difficult to apply the U7 formula on it. Now for TW1&2:
1 is comparable but no way at same level.
2 & 3 & 4 are more or less comparable
5 No way as tricky, more important role in gameplay but more a filler tool.
6 No party but there's an effort on companions design and interactions, knowing that U7 is outdated on that aspect, the comparison is coherent.
7 Nope, not at all
I haven't played DOS2 but for now, U7 could be a crap on some design aspect, or have become totally dated on some other design aspects, but in my opinion it is still a landmark on some key sophisticated design aspects.
No Bethesda RPG ever bother use U7 as an influence, but DOS1 clearly did, Gothic 1&2 clearly did, and not many RPG attempted it.