At first I thought show it, like DA:O but just because I'm a bit neurotic and did reload all the time, like others here have posted. So what I voted and what I -really- want is to be able to enjoy the game and see the fruits of my labour, what ever that'll be, so definately a hidden counter.
It would be indeed great if the companions would slowly start to react differently towards you, whether for good or bad. Maybe even go as far as to refuse orders in the middle of the battle or worse yet, turn on you! In which case my neurotic side would reload with curses but my other side would laugh and be thrilled! Consequences! "You asked for it!"
In BG 1 while playing an evil charcater the goody-two-shoes always bugged me but I still didn't want to kill them without reason. So everytime a good NPC would leave my group because of my actions and attacked I smiled. Okay this is getting bit off topic but the more there are consequences to your actions and the more real and realistic they feel the better the immersion and replay value.