Thanks. I saw the other guy's reply first (due to newest = first) but your comment makes more sense. Honestly I didn't notice. You're right though, the stat points mattered a lot less in ME2/3. I remember being advised to crank the nice/rude charisma stats (I forget their names) way up to unlock more options. I went paragon, and used the exploit with the frogs or lizards or whatever they were on that one planet to maximise my charisma so I could unlock options later.
I came in later, having enjoyed Elder Scrolls and Fallout games, so I was used to the line between RPG and action being blurred. I can't imagine I would have liked ME2 when it was new. Or maybe I would have, I don't know. I do know it forced me to rely on powers, where I was just a pure soldier in ME1, and I didn't like that. ME2 forced me to play a way I did not want to, but it met me halfway and became my favourite, not because it is or isn't a CRPG, but because it played the best for me. ME3 lost the plot when my characters went on a vacation. I realise this was DLC and was not part of the original game, but in Legendary it was all integrated and I felt like the game was pushing me to check out that apartment, and something I did locked me into the DLC. It was a fun DLC (and a good one) but it made NO sense.