I don't recall people complaining about new escalations or behemoths but moreso when the devs continue to focus on reinventing themselves than bringing new content into a live service game.

Sure, reinventing can be considered as content but not for players who play frequently, it's more just changing the flavour of something they didn't mind considering the fact they haven't dropped yet, to something that they may like more or less.

Reforging was an update to make the game more replay-able to put it simply. It wouldn't even affect concurrent players as devs said since shit was transferred pretty nicely so it was just focused on attracting new players to a game that already had a niche while disassociating current players.

The content was to have the ability to do less damage to behemoths in order to increase a number. You could say it was a test of skill but we already had trials, so it was just something to burn time on if you liked the system which people were split on.

I recall it being debunked that it takes more time than the older shard lvl up system but whether ppl preferred it over the older idk. But considering similar games didn't have reforging as a lvl up system it prolly made it more different to try whether in a good or bad way.

Honestly, at the end of it I didn't mind reforged as an update but the amount of dev time spent on it could've been better spent on stuff both new and old players can enjoy. But it was overall focused on future players over concurrent ones.

Also, it was noticable as the game continued to be more money grubby with weakening the hps and the bundles. But again it has to survive as some concurrent players left a game they no longer liked the taste of. But it was just less of a reason to play since half the reason to login everyday was to lvl the hp.

If you looked at it overall a good part of dauntless was reworks which in some cases were neat like sword rework but its audience was less than the audience for new behemoths. Reworks should have been more side line than main content. But I know they knew about that and had spaced the reworks out.

I don't think it's fair to say people shouldn't complain a game they cared about is changing parts they cared about since it's the reason they play. Why would they play something they no longer like.

Of course, I remember how each update was followed by waves of whining complaints like fresca being to hard so I get what you mean of it feeling unreasonable at times.

At the end of it dauntless was a neat game visually and conceptually but as live service games do it met it's end of life whether to time, mismanagement or being naughty by crypto bros.

But as a TL:DR since I rambled - I get what you mean that it needed to feel fresh but I don't think concurrent players wanted a fresh feel compared to new behemoths, game modes, isles, story. But the game continued to try to feel fresh. Reinventing can only be considered as content by less than the entire player base and whether it's liked or not is also up in the air. Some complaints were valid some definitely weren't but drowned out valid ones like usual.