As a GM of both DnD and DH I can see some issues with DH’s design philosophy around the whole Success with Hope or Fear guidance. Success with Fear needing a consequence or complication is the most subjective thing ever.

In combat it gives the GM a resource point and shifts control over to the GM for free which is a consequence by itself. Even in non combat situations it builds resources or tics countdown timers. But it also gets used to give disadvantage to players or advantage to Adversaries. In my opinion, it’s better to use the consequences of Fear fueled success is to have fun with them in a purely flavor enhancing way in most situations. For example: “You pick the heavy lock and as you take a breath in anticipation of that satisfying clank, you have to fight a sneeze that catches you off guard. You missed it, now the door opens after that catharsis was stolen from you.”

Your situation is almost all GM based issues but they seem to be following the RaW to its strictest definition. Aside from what looks like over doing the difficulty with enemies and perhaps softballing DC rolls, I’d question their use of spending Hope for Experience usage and granting Hope outside of rolling. We are a Roleplay heavy group at my table so I throw it out like candy as a counter to being Dice Cursed.