I know there was a 9 year period between the writing of GotM (and the years of marketing it) and DG. I believe Erikson either did the Iowa Writing Workshop either just before or just after writing GotM. I do know that he wrote a few "mainstream" novels under his real name of Steve Lundin between the two and that might have as much to do with the advancement in the storytelling.

As for foreshadowings, this series is chock full of them, some of them as baldly presented as you note. Others I didn't catch until a re-read. Just read a "prophecy" of sorts about the Tiste that reveals quite a bit of what happens in the eighth book, Toll the Hounds; didn't catch that the first time through Midnight Tides.

Speaking of said book, probably Monday or Tuesday before I have a review of it (and of Dan Simmons' Endymion) up. I'm currently swamped with last week readings for BAF 4 and then the majority of my work on that anthology will be done. I just pray that the guest editor, Minister Faust, finds enough great tales among the 75-90 that I'm sending him. I think that'll be enough, however, to make this an above-average reprint anthology. And if the proposed title stays the same, I think I might have a killer introduction angle to write.