Make it a little bit less gamble

I'm fine with equipment crafting(?) in POE. But not my friend. I spent so many times to bring her to POE, always failed in POE1. I finally got her to join me in POE2. But 2 weeks and she left because the equipment progression here is too randomized.

She tried to SSF but she felt like she could not progress as she wanted and the game does not respect her time.

Before assuming that this is not the type of the game for her, I just want to point out that she is the real grinder. She plays that Space Ninja game for more than 10 years and still playing now. It's more grind than POE but time spent there is never wasted. There are layers of progression, you are getting stronger bit by bit. Or at least you are collecting something toward the power that you will definitely got.

But here, you may not get anything at all no matter how much time and effort you spend. Drops are useless or upgrade brick your equipment. Your item gone, your currency gone.

I don't know how to fix this. For me, I just use trade. But for a newcomer who believe in SSF, the system might need to change.

It is so random and that failed regal or exalt hurts. Thankfully crafting endgame gear happens endgame where you can really get into crafting.

Wish there was a way to do this mid game though,