Moreover to say this is less grindy/boring is just completely wrong lol

With something like the Animus books at least you were asked to do different types of content. Most which was in the overworld. Hate on the "work" all you want, they were meticulously designed to make players need to do every tier of dungeon in existence in that patch, FATEs and levequests that would otherwise be ignored.

1500 tomes for a weapon is really easy and quick if you only want 1 weapon. If you want multiple weapons it's way worse now because what you're gonna do to get them at the most efficient way possible?
Hope you enjoy spamming Praetorium, with a capped character no less so not even leveling at the same time.