Looking at the last three pages of this thread kinda leaves me baffled. One of the biggest points to Infinity Evolved on Expert mode was to give players a real reason to develop extensive infrastructure and thought out bases. Doubly so if you're attempting to call down the ultimate gear with Creative Energy Cells, Creative Fluid Tanks, and The Guilty Pool (haven't seen if there were others yet) because they demand both tech and magic lines to be established.
Personally, slow as it is to move forward, I've been relishing this change of pace and the excuse to get into EVERYTHING for once. There was never a real point outside of just because for using additional mods. Now there is and it's deliciously, headache-inducingly glorious! And so far, every recipe change I've encountered has been fairly sensible to me. More capable, more powerful devices and gear that grant more return finally feel worth it and not cheap. The fact bedrockium ingots require MOX fuel from IC2 is gleefully painful. I'll have to set up at least one automated nuclear reactor with a high cycle rate to go down that path and the goodies attached. I have a reason to actually build a Nether Star grinding facility. I actually see a reason for getting bees established to get additional specialized resources to supplement things, and with the genetic manipulation machines, it's not really that bad if I put in the time to run them through the machines.
The whole point is forcing yourself to set stuff up to automate something so you can go build up the next part. I like requiring an IC2 metal former in order to make the center piece of a waterwheel, or other stuff that requires some machines I never saw before because I forgot what IC2 has. So far, I've discovered stuff I didn't even know existed. I finally have a way to enjoy a long life map where I'm not quickly at a point where all that's left is building something I don't need because I've got nothing left to shoot for. A full set of Draconic Evolution gear is huge, but even mid-game, a baked potato is a status symbol.
And if it really bothers someone that much, well, you can still live switch between Normal and Expert.
Personally, this purposeful pain in the arse road is GLORIOUS!