If you want to die you can.
I think it's fairly accepted that the tomes unbalanced BG1, most people rerolled stats until they had 18s in their primary stats then used the tomes (and I include myself in this) to make themselves 'slightly more heroic'.
What was worse was you could export the damn things out repeatedly and use them more than once-what a dull game- yawn.
I actually prefer it the way it is in SoA-you can get temporary stat increases with items but not permanent ones. It seem s better somehow. (If not a touch frustrating having a paladin with 8 int)