Well we saw radical shift in mechanics with Coils, and consider them easy or hard they did start flinging everything at us including the kitchen sink. Outside Coils the Primals were fairly structured, simple in design and varied difficulty in execution. But it really did start a shift with Coils. And perhaps that's where the next shift will happen. I'm not sure if it'll be entirely seen in Alex Savage, could be something further down the line.

That aside, I guess I just see everything differently. What you see as handouts I just see as something to do in-between the madness. The tomes gear is just another fashion of leveling my character while I get completely used to my kit in a variety of situations. I see it as just further preparation for what's to come.