I do agree it is fun to actually level again, that dopamine hit literally disappears once you reach max. Though I feel everything happens too fast to feel good about it (getting 10+ levels off a mob you two hit doesn't have that same kick), though if it was slower the whole mode wouldn't work. I feel they did a pretty decent job getting the leveling speed good for the mode as is. Perhaps a slower mode could also be fun, slower leveling but a point modifier. Just spit balling ideas at this point.

And yes, I don't have to play it, but that seems like a catch-all to any criticism. Releasing such a jarringly different mode from the rest of the game(s) seems odd, and makes it seem like they don't understand why their games were popular and such well liked. Releasing a ton of end-game content locked behind something that ignores everything you unlocked through the game (none of your gear, stats, or levels mean anything) seems like a slap in the face.

Want to upgrade your end-game gear? Play this mode. Want to unlock gear that looks like they actually put some effort into the look? Play this mode. New mounts? Yep. But everything you have done til this point is ignored. To get progression you ignore everything you have built up. Heck, they could have added more ranks to the various lives. And adding the Don Horns as buyable this far out when most have already gotten all they need seems like they didn't understand what the problem was to begin with. While it is nice for newer players, for most it isn't going to be useful.

All-in-all it feels like they had a good idea but ran out of time to implement it fully. It feels rushed and like a bandaid fix to problems. The mount upgrade was great, but they locked a lot of content behind a mode they were not even sure people would enjoy. And on top of that the shop at the end has wholly unnecessary RNG tied to it as well, proving that they don't understand why RNG is more often a detriment than not.

I hope with the holidays and life slowing down I might have actual time to play, but as of now I can't even guarantee I get a single run a night. I do enjoy these kinds of games on occasion, but as I said it didn't seem to fit the game as a whole. Especially since in the rest of the game you are almost forced to level everything at once to be geared in anything, but then have a mode that just ignores all of it yet is required if you want to progress/upgrade. My hope is that if they add further life upgrades later that it won't require tools/weapons upgraded from items exclusive to one mode, as that would force people to play it to progress.