Took a break for fresh eyes, still the same issues (honor, exp loss, endgame, no T15 maps)

Took a break from PoE 2 for a bit and came back thinking that some fresh eyes and distance might improve the experience...and it hasn't.

Yes, there is still a lot about the game that is great, and it's so good that it makes me want to come back. But then I start playing and I remember why I stopped. There are only a few things left I would say break the game, and the core of it is still great, but the stuff that is bad is so bad, that it ruins the experience past a certain point. As others have said, the campaign is great, and much of the endgame is good, but it hits a point where it feels like GGG is going out of their way to make it unplayable, and it's just odd because everything that came before it is really good.

1) The honor system is still one of the worst game design choices I've ever seen. I had to fight a chalice fight against a monster that had a ton of aoe damage and had proximal intangibility. What the f*** am I supposed to do with that? How is that fair?

The simple fact is that trials rewards super high dps, instant clear builds, the kind GGG claims they don't want in the game. There is no reliable way to keep honor restored, and it still has all of the worst elements of roguelike. When you design a rogue like game, there is supposed to be a chance you get a good run. That's what makes the repetition engaging. That isn't possible with either trials. They both are super punishing every time, with nothing to balance it out. It just makes the whole experience frustrating.

2) Death experience. Yes, I get it. I get why it's there and I get some people like it, but it's just not designed well. Most of my deaths have come from bugs, 1 shot attacks by enemies a whole screen away, being swarmed the instant monsters come on the screen, attacks I can't avoid because of move speed (got 1 shot even with 35% and I started moving as soon as soon as the animation started), or opening a chest box. None of those things have counter play to them. Yes, some deaths are because of build, skill, etc..., but there are too many things I'm dying to that have no counter play. And then when GGG talks about it, they don't even acknowledge it. It's just like "we don't want you dying a thousand times because your build is crap". Yeah, that's not it. My build is not crap. I'm dying to stuff that has no counter play, why is this my fault?

3) Endgame is just straight up boring. I get it's ea, but even the stuff that is there is repetitive. Stuff like delirium takes WAY too long to max out (300 is way too much), Ritual is constantly put into spots that have NO room to move, and everything is just clear waves. Delirium, ritual, breach...it's all just clear waves. I get it's an AARPG, but shouldn't there be some variety? The only thing with variety are bosses, but again, the death experience takes away any incentive to take risks or try new material.

4) There just aren't enough t15 maps. I'm at 90 with almost 60% MF, and I'm still getting like tier 1's and tier 3's. That should not be happening at that level.

I'll keep trying during EA because the core is good, but if GGG doesn't address this stuff, or decides this is really the experience they want for late game, I doubt I'll stick around. Just feels like GGG doesn't want an accessible game at a certain point.

i only want to jump in for one point. its because of T15 maps. i really can not confirm that, maybe change your atlas tree. but T15 map drops are good.
The only thing i want to add , are the drops at all from maps or for the good items.
As a casual Player i dont see me getting ever the nice stuff, which are in nearly every build and i will not farm month to have 200 div to buy me one item.