Nerf rng does not make it better. It's just how it is. I've been crafting and gathering and, well, you can get nothing from a 95% node 4 consecutive times. It's just how it is. Sometimes people have horrid luck.

Change it might be a better idea. I personally like the book/light/alex idea that you can actually see how far you've progressed. And that gives me faith. And also the courage to keep grinding.