White should probably deviate from the main line at move 4, after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6, by playing 4. Nc3 or 4. Qa4+. This is probably more trouble than 3. e4 though, as Black can react in even more different ways.
Avoiding an IQP in the Queen's gambit accepted

There is this line leading to an endgame :
Seems rather dull and uninspiring but not so easy for black.
Of course, black could play cxd4 instead of a6 and there are several lines for black like a6, c5, Be6 just after dxc4 or one move later....
On cxd4, if white really wants to play something different than IQP positions, then Nxd4.
For example :
Is it possible to avoid playing with an IQP in the Queen's gambit accepted without playing the Baguirov variation (3.e4)?