KiNgBrAdLeY7: It is a ruleset issue. Icewind Dale 1 uses rules that allow elves to become druids, and even if you want, to use a 3 ruleset edition sneak attack, instead of the 2.0 and 2.5 backstab thief ability. Different rules, different mechanisms...
The enhanced editions, follow the kits, the classes and the combos, that can be done in Baldur's Gate, plus some new classes, like dwarven defender, that come from neverwinter knights.
In the original, you could make an elf druid, and if memory serves well, it had been justified lore-wise, too. Elf druid is pretty badass, mostly because of resistances. And the dexterity bonus. I was very disappointed to see that in the enhanced (which i purchsed mostly to say "thank you" to GoG for bringing it here, and complete my collection), you cannot make one such character.
Also, i liked more the system of original icewind. It favored multiclass combos BIG time... And it wasn't an exact copy of BG2, rules and mechanisms wise... It had its own unique style.
I see. So the EE is basicaly Baldur's Gate 2 combat pasted on top of Icewind Dale's story? along with a bg's kits and so? I never did find the combat particularly diferent from one game to another, though what always stroke me as "diferent" were the classes and kits available.