The UA and UU get you a free religion without needing the piety social policy track, building an early shrine, or wasting your pantheon belief on a piety generator. That is plenty powerful enough, and as powerful as you need.
'Lucky' doesn't come into it either. Their bias sets them next to a forest. You have to be extremely unlucky for that not to happen. Whether it's two or three barely makes a difference. Either way you'll get your pantheon and will be set to get a first religion even on deity with 14 other civs. A lot of people even prefer only having the +1 piety as it gives you more time to scout, so as to be more informed when picking your pantheon belief.
Worrying about these 'issues' that keep it from being slightly stronger is not really maintaining an accurate perspective. It all boils down to "Free religion, with no effort required". When you view it as such, it's a pretty awesome ability.
They are my favorite and best civ for Deity play.