Don't have a source but Dragon Age Keep will apparently be more accurate than importing your save game would be, since Origins apparently doesn't save a lot of choices you make, or they are lost when converted to DA2. Either way it will supposedly be objectively better to use the Keep and just select all the options that you chose instead of importing the save.
I just played through Origins for the third time this past week, and I'm playing through DA2 right now. It's not as bad as I remember it. The combat is actually kind of fun with the exception of the continuously spawning enemies. Some of the weapons and armor just look ridiculous though. I preferred the more practical looking weapons from DAO. The romance I feel is pretty lacking, at least the female options are. I can see why some people wouldn't like Isabela (she's skanky) but I can't imagine why anyone would ever romance Merrill. She's basically a kid, or at least comes off as one. I think it might have to do with the elf redesign that makes them all skinny and have Celtic accents. I much preferred the Origins Merrill.