I don't think Eureka is a lost cause. Like I said before grind itself isn't bad but the structure of Eureka's is. There's too much stick and not enough carrot unless you get lucky and there are NMs chaining at a rapid pace. Then you feel good as lockboxes, crystals, and XP just rolls in.

Sitting in a corner wailing on the same mobs all by yourself because due to how the level system works if you're more than two levels different from your friends it's not worth it...that is like running up the down escalator with sandbags on your shins.