I quite like how SE is handling the difficulty issue at the moment.

The "top of the line" stuff is pretty hardcore.

e.g.
crafting
- the absolute best gear will try your patiences to it's limit with it's overmelding bull
- lower level stuff isn't that bad, thanks to artisan gear from the vendor that comes "fully melded" at a very reasonable cost; not without effort, but not the bull insanity that is overmelding to cap.

This is probably the model SE will go with for the foreseeable future. Latest cutting edge stuff will be hardcore, but as time pasts they difficulty will be reduced.

People who want a challenge can do the cutting edge and be rewarded for it. People who can't be bothered or don't have the energy/time, can stay a step behind the cutting edge and still get content to do all the same.