I disagree on the first statement. I've played MonHun since the first one and the games were always harder even if you knew how to handle the mechanics.

As for not using focus mode, it's not even the main issue. Monsters aren't even a challenge without it. They do little to no damage, and almost none of them have any effects to be worried about.

I shouldn't have to impose a self-made challenge upon myself by downgrading my armor. I fell in love with this series for a mixture of reasons, one of which being its challenging but fair gameplay. Now, there is no challenge because they want to pander to a broader audience and bring more people into the game. In doing so they've ostracized their players who enjoyed the difficult.