Raise the soft cap to -20 from max and change cores back to Masterwork Cores (used for masterworking only). Leveling is painful and customization is hindered by cores. You’re emphasizing the worst parts of rpg games - the slog to max power. You should be emphasizing the customization and build diversity after reaching max power. You’ve made a tedious chore list to get to max power, and then you’ve made it too expensive to experiment with builds once we get there - and you’re sending us back to the tedium of completing chore lists just to gather materials.