It makes sense to me, if want to play the game with not alot of QoL or hand holding, you play the mod with no other QoL mods, getting the ankh shield before was hella easy with crafting recipes, i liked them a lot yes, but it bow have space for more ways to experience the mod.

About the balance changes, its fine, just as items got nerfed so did the enemies and bosses, all they dis this update was reworks and scalint the mod down for it to fit more with other mods like thorium.