Yeah, they’re both very bland.

For remove curse, there’s an easy bandaid fix: Remove curse must be upcast to remove stronger effects. Sure, you can break the ring of power’s hold over the knight, if you cast remove curse at 9th level. Otherwise, you have to follow the plot.

The plot route should be like all cursed items have a custom way of removing them. The sword of betrayal can be removed if you return it to the original owner’s crypt. The stones of drowning can be broken if you bury them in the desert under a new moon. The ring of power can be destroyed if you throw it into the volcano where it was forged.

For counterspell, well… Make it an extended check with some options on each exchange. You both declare in secret if you’re putting more spell slots or hp into the check, or folding. If you fold, the other person gets their way, but any extra resources they committed are wasted. If neither folds, you roll with bonuses based on what resources you put in. More spell slots or HP or hit dice give you some sort of bonus.

Probably get rid of counterspell as a spell on its own and just make this a thing you can do. Give wizards some more tactical depth. If you use the same spell you get a bonus to countering. If it’s the same school, bonus.

Like all of D&D 5e, there’s so much you could do that the game just doesn’t.

“I cast remove curse.” The DM dumps 6 pages of story on the floor and looks sad.

Edit: wait, this is instantaneous?
So like in a fight the BBEG sword is nasty, likely cursed. Cast Remove Curse on the sword. It removes the attunement to the sword. BBEG has a not-so-good weapon now, and likely loses some cool mechanics. Is that right?

So…Just have curses be permanent? Why?