To be fair I feel that on some points the game not only it didn't improve but it even became worse. Mainly player and NPC interactions. I have to say that I hate the current clan system cause it's ****. It killed all the individuality that the game had, let me give a few examples:
-In warband you could court a girl, another noble could court her too and you could even fight a duel for her, while it wasn't overly impressive at least it was better than bartering the wife.
-In warband you could have a good relationship with the brother while being hated by the father, it did let me have more complex relationships than just being liked/hated by the whole clan.
-I don't hate house renown, but for the love of god, why did they take down the individual renown? I want people to hear of my character's name, to know him, not just his clan!.
In the end this has been said quite a bit but what most of us hope is just that this game drinks a bit from crusader kings so that it gives a better experience, that game is actually quite funny cause of how messy it can be on relationships and events, assassinations, usurpations, marrying and discovering your wife is your half sister, stealing your brother's wife... The problem that mount and blade always had is that you don't have dynamic interactions with the world, it's all static, stuff doesn't just happen, events don't develop.
How great would the game be if companions had some importance over using them for missions? you remember that outlaw companion you got? well he became an outlaw after becoming an enemy of x noble and he is sending manhunters for him, you could betray him and earn relationship with that noble or help your friend in need, perhaps the conflict could be solved in some way? if the mount and blade world was more alive and I could get choices and battles cause of seemingly relunctant choices it would be great.
Let's be fair, I want to cuck a king, leave with his wife then gain his eternal hate while his daughter decides to hunt me down, seduce her too and laugh at the king's face. Basically have fun on many aspects, even if it wasn't perfect I can use a bit of imagination, but you know... messing up with people is always a pleasure.