You sound like a noob. The catch up is a joke. I have 10 characters I have at max level with legendary belt, item level 245 and up for all and all have near 80 or 80 renown and I didn’t have to play more then 20 hours for the week.
I take it you are just bad at the game for all the skill you talk about.
The only thing is the second legendary base is obviously too expensive to buy at 290 level from auction house so alts run 225 perhaps or less at times.