In from the Cold actually was my favorite solo instance in the game, I remember feeling actually lost and danger was around the corner, I didn't have my skills. I was a weak and fragile NPC, not only did it immerse me, but it also put me in Zenos' shoes who actually went through a similar experience in Stormblood and was able to overcome the limitations of a nerf (I guess?). It also made me realize the power gap between us and the NPCs we have been killing. I remember struggling to help the civilians who were fighting desperately to survive and I felt it too, I wanted to survive and in a way try to save them.

I was caught offguard by the QTE and failed that duty before but it didn't feel awful to me. I liked how the game doesn't hold your hand and lets you explore this foreign and dangerous area....

I think I'm grateful to have experienced it prior to its adjustments? I remember doing the MSQ on an alt and it just didn't feel the same because the quest objectives (iirc) are there to handhold you.
On that 2nd playthrough, the final solo duty in base 6.0...I was so excited for it, but my second run I wanted to prolong it, to see what happens if I die, if there's extra dialogue etc...

And to my shock, I discovered how excessively difficult it was to actually die even if you get hit by everything, everything is disappointingly slowly telegraphed and your HP regen essentially guarantees a win. When I discovered this, I was really disappointed. There's no threat or urgency in solo duties once you discover that....If people think things are hard and want it easy, then give us a hard mode of solo duties or something that we can select.

Sorry for the rant.