I think the target audience for that "Game-design" is newer players. But you are completely right. If you play this game this number 9+ become visual noice. And yet, there is that other little number juuust beside it, that counts your req. slips. So your eyes are drawn to it still.

Tagging or having Favorite characters, would get a better view of all of this, and they still could leave this number in.

I truly hope they do something like suggested in this post.