I'm tired of the rehashed content too (especially the low level dungeons forced on us by the books...), but Zodiac weapons were intended to be grindy for the people who were upset about everything being spoonfed and taking no effort at all.

I hope later steps have some new content attached, but I don't feel like they should nerf the grind. I'm sure as new phases are added, the old ones will become easier, but the grind is what a lot of people were demanding for months. There are other options for people who don't want/have the time it takes to obtain animus weapons.