I think that pretty well sums it up. But completing the story was never designed to be challenging, IMO. They meant challenge to be for the achievements available after the story's completed. Which I hope they'll start unlocking for the whole account instead of requiring you to repeat the story for each char you want to be viable for attempting the cheevs.
Personally I'm glad it's not all lolblob auto-1 to win content. Not that I have anything against that sort of thing, I enjoy it. I just like that there's more of a sense of a personal story and experience now.