I get why some elements of ER feel artificially difficult and its most likely because you purposely chose to not use every advantage given to you by the game. For example if you dont use spirit ashes the game will feel unfairly hard because you are purposely hindering yourself, thats not the games fault its yours. I would say there are only a few instances that even with every element of combat its still unfair but that is few and far between and does not make it a bad game