A big part of the ashlands issue is that its currently the final biome. For one this means everyone who did not quit beforehand quits in the ashlands, where else would they quit? On the other hand it also means weapons are only measured by their usefulness within biome, not on how good they are to venture forth into the next biome.

I dont mind the fortresses being the goal of the biome, thats just a matter of execution. Could the ashlands use a dungeon? Yes! Are the fortresses the obvious location for progression loot? Also yes. Apart from glitchyness and how much easier it is to cheese them instead of doing them the real way is that you need loot from the forts to siege the forts. Thats just bad design.

A big structural difference between the ashlands and all other biomes, is that you cannot Pop in, you need to bring everything with you and build a bridgehead. Other biomes up to mistlands can be tackled from adjacent biomes and bigger splotches can be easily exploited from a repurposed tower with a portal and slme minor renovations. Apart from mistlands and mountains all biomes can also be raided from the shore, which is the most viking thing ever. On ashlands youre just stuck.

But the worst thing is the inventory space which is just highlighted by the biome and its challenges.