the complaint isn't that it's too easy/too hard.
the complaint is that you have to waste a lot more money/resources on food that has short lived effects vs all other crafting.
I make a cotton pair of pants -> it lasts me for 10 levels while I craft/gather.
I make a food which requires 6 different ingredients instead of 3 for the pants -> it lasts 30 minutes -> I die within 3 minutes food is gone.

That's the point everyone in this thread is trying to make.