From a mainly PvP player perspective (with lfr/casual raiding and running M+15 without pushing higher, I like every aspect of the game, just don't have time for it) - it doesn't work that way this expansion. This expansion is all about gear. You can't just "relax into that" because you're competing with other players every game. If you don't keep up with arms race you're going down. You're going to loose because their healer farmed that essence that's OP, because they farm high M+ keys or raid mythic, because they have insane PvE trinkets and because they stacked BiS corruptions with their high corruption cloak.
I know someone will come in saying learn to play or stuff like that but this season is not about skill, and you can't just relax and get everything you need just later like you said. You're either grinding the things you need or you're loosing rating to people that have bigger numbers and more tools, even if they are at the same or lower skill level. I've played thousands of arenas this expansion and current season is the worst out of the worst seasons in WoW history.