Strange how many people complain about how the game is too easy, or not difficult or complex enough, yet as soon as there is content that has a gated stat requirement of preptime and knowledge checks, everyone starts saying it is bad. This might be a good reason why the MSQ and combat jobs have to be on two-minute timers and very generous to players, or this happens. The content is not bad, you are.

FF14 players had almost an entire year with the release of DT to level and BIS there, crafting and gathering gear with many old and new catch-up mechanics. Complaining about not being prepared for this is complaining about not being ready for the new extreme trial boss when you're only level 90. At some point, you need to rise to the expectations and perhaps this is the harder content that is not for you, like ranked CC, Ultimate raiding, or solo DD.

I like the harder gathering A ranks as it is pushing me to the limits of my game knowledge to solve them as well with planning ahead and using resources that for the most part has been untouched till now. If you want to be cutting edge in most content, you need to know what BIS and a food buff is, why should gathering be different? You don't have to do all the A ranks, and this content is made to last a little longer than 24 hours.

Some of these A ranks for gathers are really tough, but you don't have to do them all gold week one to get your items, and from the time of writing, I do not even think they are all unlockable.