The system is fine although not without flaws, it would've been better if essences/actions were infinite and not consumables, more people would use them and not have a "I need to save 99 Megalixirs for the final boss but I'll never use any" moment. The playerbase make it worse because a huge chunk of people don't understand it (which is also a flaw of the system, players aren't the only ones to blame), or in some cases they do understand but refuse to use it anyway, therefore becoming deadweight willingly. Not using damage boosting essences is the equivalent (or worse) of going into content with no job stone. This is no exaggeration, the impact on performance is enormous.

As with most content, it's not very hard, it is designed so the few can carry the rest, and so I did. I always brought essences and actions so I could fill any role at any time. I've tanked CLL as a WHM with Templar and Lost Incense when all tanks went top and bottom was left tankless, I've ripped aggro doing damage as WHM because their damage essences and actions like Lost Seraph Strike are ridiculous, I've healed my party and raised near-wipes as WAR because I always have Lost Cure IV and Arise with me. And it was fun, I enjoy being powerful and useful, the MvP. Some people don't particularly care to try that hard, and that's ok with me as long as they do try. But some don't, and even when I had fun it is still irritating whenever people refused to even pop an essence even when knowing about them.

When I farmed DR I did so with scheduled speedrun premades. Lots more fun when absolutely everyone contributes, 12-16 minute Delubrums beat sitting on a regular run for potentially 45+ minutes any day. And I don't have to deal with Save the Queen anymore at any rate, except if I want to farm some fragments for gil. All 17 relics completed, 100% Field Operations achievements completed. You could say I've been there, done that, bought the T-Shirt and have an opinion.

I do hope next time there's a Field Operations content it's made keeping in mind that a lot of people just don't want to deal with consumables, period. Farming the stuff isn't particularly hard but it doesn't change the fact some people don't wanna deal with it. Don't make it consumable based, make it more accessible, easier to understand and more streamlined so as to not overwhelm people with too many options, there's a bit too much stuff in the way of essences/actions and not all of it is necessary or all that useful. It becomes an issue when some people want to use the stuff but then not know what to do or bring something that doesn't really help or feel good.

And here is where we reach another issue, the trend where everything starts becoming simpler over time (like job design in ShB, most notably healers) and that's another whole different topic.