Honest feedback from a POE vetran

I want to start by saying that I have enjoyed over 5000hrs on POE1 and over 500hrs on POE2 but lately I have just had a hard time being motivated to play POE2 as it feels just a bit too punishing. Now I know people are going to instantly dismiss the rest of this because I said that but I want GGG to hear my point of view.

I do not have a problem with POE2 having a little slower and more deliberate playstyle as it sets it apart from POE1. The issue I have is it just does not seem as fun because all I focus on is not dying instead of enjoying the loot hunt. There has always been the xp hit when dying which is ok but now you loose the gear on the ground, the progression of the map, all the currency I spent juicing it in the first place, etc... its just not fun. I no longer find myself looking forward to playing each season because of this.

I know the typical response will be then just go play POE1 and I still do occasionally but I really hope you can find that balance of being harder and more deliberate than POE1 but not so frustratingly punishing that I do not want to even start a char each season. All my friends that I used to play POE1 with wont even consider POE2 with me because of this which also pushes me away.

I know this one opinion will probably not make much of a difference but I felt like it would be a disservice if I did not at least give my feedback before going and finding something else to play. I have enjoyed this game so much more than all the other ARPG's I cycle through in less than a week each season before moving on.

P.S. Please add something in the endgame like the 40/40 totem in POE1 as it added so much more enjoyment to the endgame and made it much more satisfying to get that totem to show off in my hideout.