One word: Replayability.
Stretching out the game with level grinds or time gates or whatever else cripples replayabilty. If a player has to grind 50 levels in every new game they play... it gets old, fast.
Its not just a problem for those of us that have been around for too many alphas,anyone who plays will eventuly go 'i really cant be assed to grind 50 levels so i can craft this thing again.'
You don't see replayability, I do.
Starting with different builds instead of ALWAYS going full crafting is not possible and viable option.
New AI ensures you can survive blood moons on cobblestone alone and the only thing you need int for now that you can't get otherwise are 3 end game vehicles.
For you its stretching the game out, for me its allowing me to take a different route.
Exclusively int is level gated and playing without more then 3 points in int is possible now.
If you feel like its too much for you to handle, don't cry for the progression to be dumbed down to the point where its non viable to play as anything else then crafting and just mod yourself what settings and limits you'd like.
Also, how many times you start over on average? I hardly doubt its more then 1 every couple of months, if you can't be arsed to "grind", then mod it out for yourself.
Also, stop ignoring the fact that "this thing" can be gotten much, much, MUCH earlier through quests, vendor or loot, depending on your very own choices.
Its not that you have to have certain level to get certain things, there isn't a single thing you can't have before unlocking it through int, except 3 end game vehicles. Its that you want to craft it yourself, while you most certainly don't have to due to other sources being there.
You no longer need knowledge to craft something to be able to repair it and there is zero reason to rush anything, unless you really have low patience and if you do, think again if this game is really for you, because you are complaining on a "grind" in a game that is made around grinding literally everything around you.