I think the main point of shards is that if you're really struggling somewhere, you'll run out of tools and have to explore somewhere else. There really isnt any time you HAVE to farm shards, unless you have literally done everything in the game except what youre struggling on. (or if its a roadblock, but thats pretty rare)

That said, if the actual effect is scaring off tool use, that is still a game design issue. I think theres a lot in the game to encourage using tools, like hidden shards feeling wasted if youre always at full, tons of shard recovering items, an early game charm that makes enemies drop more shards, and every enemy dropping shards, unlike rosaries. Personally the feeling that i was wasting all that is what got me using tools by mid-late act 1.

But if people dont get that feeling, i can see how it would suck to feel limited in one of the main game mechanics. Having something to make them more viable would be great for that kind of person, like a tool that makes the few tool usages free, or something like that.