Good to see you're still among us Dogg! I'm having a different experience. Likely because of the experience of previous Souls games but I find it so far zero frustrating or even very difficult. The good level design also helps alleviate long trudges upon death so far.
Just earlier did I help a guy as a summon for over an hour in the Cathedral of Deep. From the Chapel Bonfire all the way to the boss fog wall where a connection error split us sadly

We cleared the whole area like bosses. It was the first time seeing the area for both of us, so we cheered each other up after every challenge, haha. That was a memorable experience.