Willow,
This is exactly what we talked about the other night in game when you shut DDT down, He doesnt know, doesnt care to know and assumes almost everything. DDT and Dangs agenda is a very narrow one and specifically geared towards a play style that barely fits MMO's anymore let alone and Crafting sandbox.
Im to the point where im refraining from posting anything that might be constructive because honestly im just tired of DDT's incoherent, irrelevance responses to suggestions and attempts to deface peoples ideas because he finds them unnecessary...
Sorry didnt mean to hijack the post but I Find Willowhawk very helpful and friendly in game and on forums, and am really tired of the couple very vocal Trolls...
And to the OP Im in the same boat as you with agreeing they are to hard, but part of that is due to this being a skill based game and not a level based game... and the other is due to armor and weapon stats not adding correctly especially on Cloth tested and confirmed..
But most of your problem should go away next week from what i understand when the totem go poof...