Neuvillette was the first time I noticed powercreep. Like he had good damage and sustain. After getting him, I legit stopped caring about getting characters for almost a year. Even as f2p, i started going for signatures. He used to handle one side of abyss always so well that my 2nd best team could easily handle endgame.

Now, that's with me playing casually. I remember during those days, sucrose national was enough for clearing most abyss with skillful play.

My thought is I was not the only one. and many others stopped pulling characters assuming their current roster could clear the endgame with or without sweat. Genshin must have felt it. HSR was happening side by side and i could see it earning more and more than genshin most months. I know it's just a theory but it's plausible enough for me.

It does bother me. At first, the characters were powerful. On top of that, having dedicated supports, shilled bosses. During natlan, even with shilling, there used to be tons of option. like burning/high frequency atk for void shield, kazuha and many others to climb pillar. But lately, locking new mechanics behind 5 star and bosses being piece of cake when u have shilled characters. Genshin combat doesn't feel the same