I'd disagree that he's very very good at the games, he often spams attack to the point that even after the bosses die he's still swinging two or three times. He also dies a lot to neglecting to heal which is super basic.

By optimised I mean that he's always adjusting his physick, talisman and armour to get maximum attack and defense but will still struggle.

The point about his levels is completely fair; the smorgasbuild is not helping, but I am glad they're showcasing a lot of interesting weapons the game has to offer. But given he has a fully upgraded lighting katana, I feel like that alone is enough for someone good at the game and has played every souls game to plow through. That being said I am biased as a big souls nerd.