The first step to solving this problem of limited inventory space is to use your characters as mules. In my game, every single character has a secondary weapon equipped. Every amulet and belt slot is used. Both ring slots are filled. Not necessarily because the character is going to use those items, but because it frees up slots in my backpack.
The second step is to shell out for the backpack expansions. These are an ingame money sink. They partly encourage you to visit various merchants to see if they sell one of the precious backpack expansions. But they mostly force hard decisions about how to spend your money.
But then there's the third step. It's called Warden's Keep and it'll cost you seven dollars to download. It adds a new party camp that includes storage so you can free up backpack slots when you're adventuring. Bioware claims this was created after early reviews complained about the lack of inventory space. But rather than fixing the game by giving everyone a storage locker, they opted to use the problem as a way to make more money.
Oh, everyone look shocked and then start an online petition. There has to be a way to show your outrage with you non-wallet. Because, you know, it's busy enjoying Dragon Age.
Not that I've played it; I'm skeptical about Bioware's ability to make a great game after they blew their wad on Jade Empire. Blah blah blah
Mass Effect. I played Moon Patrol already, thanks. On a black-and-white television, even.
I'm guessing that the astounding praise is like when they give someone an Oscar for a shit movie, but five years ago, the guy did an awesome job but got passed over, and in this case, everyone's all nostalgic about Baldur's Gate because we all bought 4th Edition and didn't bother with it, and now it's just another box on the shelf.
Minsc wasn't funny then, and he isn't funny now, and space lesbians don't make games good.