It wouldn’t have felt this bad if they didn’t make generators hit like a wet tissue.
Generators should be capable of one-shotting the weakest at-level mobs in World Tier 1, and take off around 35% of weak non-elite at-level mobs in World Tier 4.
The design philosophy shows through the details everywhere. Diablo IV design isn’t about letting players do what they want, but making players do what the devs want, you do what we want, or you get nothing done.
This is why the bottom row of the renown rewards exist: you want those build-defining points? Do what we say.
This is why glyphs are only leveled up in nightmare dungeons: you want to level up glyphs? Do what we say.
This is why forgotten souls are only available in Helltides: you want to enchant your gear? Do what we say.
The design is not a theme park where you choose what activity you want. It is a strictly laid out school curriculum, where you progress in the order they dictate, at the speed they dictate, in ways that they dictate.