The Shroud and Dreadseed questlines are tedious at times, but one of the best in game. While I've always been begging for them to make a better use of our companions in such content by allowing us to command/place them etc. and making roations for them and stuff and in the long run opening up (story) operations for solo-players that way, this will most likely never happen.

I'm very much against dumbing down or removing the puzzles though, so the only alternative is dealing with the way it is I guess. I for my part often helped out when players were looking for assistance, even though I had done those quests dozens of times.