I know this has been suggested before as a simple request, but:
Make this an option. The game defaults to the current setup, since many are used to it, but it can be changed in the options page. (Call this normal mode and wasd mode.)
1. When in wasd mode, only the keyboard causes motion, left clicks will select an item/mob, or do nothing if the click misses. (Right-click and drag changes your POV, as usual.) No running forward into an unwanted encounter. It might be useful to increase the size of the select object zone, to make it easier to target things.
2. As an alternative, or in addition, when in normal mode, we need a modifier key (obviously, the shift and control keys are already in use, so some other key (alt?) will have to be used), that will cause one to stand pat and not run forward. Objects are either selected or not.