It's refreshing to see that the Potter section while has screen elements to some of their rides does also seem to be focusing on trying to do a little more than just that. FJ when it first came out was amazing refreshing and still a favorite of mine. While there was screens, most of the time you were seeing constructed sets, or AAs. It's one thing to have a 3D image come out at you, it's another to have a physical Dementor in your face.
In all rides relating to screens in the Potter world, it's clear that the reasoning for them is simply to bring the physical characters to life. Universal isn't know for their human AAs, but Hagrid's coaster seems to be a step to changing that.
Also, the new T2 replacement is rumored to be focused more on stunt work than the original show, so Universal might be slowly trying to use less 3D (as I doubt they'll never get rid of it entirely, exhibit A, the newly opened Fast Furious).