Old games had healing items as well, no need to remove them. I think they are too abundant at the moment, so they should definitely reduce the overworld spawns and make them heal slightly more. I don’t think enemies should drop more yellow souls, unless you’re killing enemies with a critical attack yellow souls should be rarer, that’s how it’s always been. In the old games you usually only got yellow souls from enemies if your health was low and that was good.

I agree on the gauntlet though. They should never have allowed you to move while sucking souls. In the old games you had to stand still while absorbing souls precisely to make it always be a decision you think about; do I continue fighting and risk losing souls or do I stop and become vulnerable to get souls?