Why did players believe they were in a time crunch for the BG series?

[perdaniel]

In BG1, your party members would say things that made it seem urgent.

 

Spoiler

When meeting Jaheira, she would say "How long must we wait here? Things stir to the south as we sit!". If I recall correctly, both she and Khalid will complain if you don't go to Nashkel within some time limit. Xzar says "I've no wish to strain our relationship, but you did promise to go to Nashkel. Our delay is making me rather... tense. I'm not nice when I'm tense." if you don't go to Nashkel within some time limit. I think Minsc will complain if you don't rescue Dynaheir, or at least goes to the map where she is, within some time limit.

 

[Thacobell]

Counterpoint to the plot urgency
 

Spoiler

But Irenicus doesn't escape his cell in Spellhold until the start of chapter 3, iirc. Nothing indicates that Imoen is anything but incarcerated at that point.

I don't think its unreasonable for a charname to believe both parties are secure in a cell. They certainly seem clueless upon reaching the prison depending on which path you take to get entry.