I generally agree, a game should be balanced. I have mentioned several times how PF2e is very close to what I had considered the ideal design concept some time ago. However, I am having doubts, mostly based on your posts (and others). For example, you have mention that PF2e drowns you in a bunch of small choices that don't matter or shackles you in the math. Well, they did this to achieve the ideal balance they have. So I guess, what I am curious about is how to retain the balance and also remove the shakles? I don't really know. Which is more important: balance or freedom? Can we have both?
Again, I agree. And I do accept it that it doesn't work for him and many like him. Similarly, I would prefer people in a similar situation to @Celtavian and yourself understand that things do work for those who play differently. Which I assume they do, but some post make me wonder.
To tell you the truth. I've always wondered what percentage of DMs have players who min-max and really try to push the power game to the envelope versus players who enjoy a fun time with their friends, make some character concept they like based on a story or movie or some idea they dream up, and feel threatened when they see a bunch of zombies, or orcs and appreciate a +1 sword or a wand or a few potions.
Most of the people I see angry on forums are either DMs unhappy with some aspect of the game. I know in PF1 you would see these complaints from DMs about adventure design asking what was in summation, "Do you even understand what your players are doing? They will destroy this encounter. Are you adventure designers even trying to make the game challenging?" Also "Why is this room so small when you have a huge creature in it? Who designed this map where the players don't even have room to fight the creature or the creature doesn't have room to use its abilities?" Things like that.