Some people actually prefer the first game but the general opinion is that BGII is better.
I would think only an extreme purist would saythat Tutu 'ruins a lot of what BG has to offer'. You can disable enhancements you don't want.
Other mods do a lot for the feel of the game, such as the BG1 NPC Project which adds hundred's of BGII like banters.
It's a shame to miss out on a great game. Even if you do prefer BGII in the end, it's well worth playing.