It's also one of the reasons I've never liked making spells match the PnP versions perfectly. Sometimes it's better to leave those 1 hour/level just as they are.
Yes, PnP XP is much higher than NWN, mainly because a battle can last a long time, and you are facing DM AI vs Computer AI, so monsters rarely act "stupid" & rarely do things that are irrational. 
'> (A huge difference)
Absolutely. In PnP orcs and goblins don't get stuck against the furniture when charging you. 
'> At least not orcs... maybe goblins. If they aren't picking their nose while trying to shoot an arrow and accidently kill themselves.
Interesting comments. My motivation for giving max HP is not for dealing with mechanics so much as to improve the player's sense of agency in the game. If you know the HP you will get when choosing a particular class, then that becomes a significant part of the choice you are making. If you are not sure how much HP you'll get with particular class, it becomes a gamble that is largely out of your hands. I prefer that most of the basic stats on the character sheet be within a player's control.
One of the home rules I have for my PnP game is to have everyone roll 1d6 for HP. They then add the difference between 6 and whatever their normal HD are to the roll. For example having a barbarian (normally d12 HD) roll [1d6 +6 + Con modifier] for their HP. The Wizard (d6) would roll [1d6 + Con Mod], and the Rogue (d8) would roll [1d6 + 2 + Con Mod]. The reason I did this was because I liked the players having a chance for high HP, and a chance for low HP. But I didn't like the Barbarian rolling three 1's in a row... and somehow having the Wizard roll all 6's and end up with more HP. This way I just make the range of possible HP smaller, and is more in favor of the players themselves. In PnP I usually give the first three levels Max HP anyway.
I can understand wanting to keep those choices up to the player. That's kind of why Dice Rolling stats in d20 is fading away in favor of Point-Buy systems like in NWN. That and standardizing everyone so that every DM knows everyone has an equal chance to make a good character.
