I thought the solo duties were frustrating...

[Mawlzy]

Solo duties also have “very easy” mode. At that point your natural regen is overtaking damage dealt even if you chase AOE’s and the NPC’s can solo the fight. You literally have to try to die in very easy mode

And the bar is only getting returned to what it was basically before EW, EW is the anomaly here that asked literally zero from the player. You also have to balance the fact that EW’s casual content was almost universally derided for being too easy. Is it worth blocking the small cohort of people who are blocked from EW->DT difficulty to increase satisfaction amongst other players?

This is completely false. See the thread on the Quests board - Taking A Stand.

Players who like harder content have plenty of options. Indeed it seems they are catered to almost exclusively.