steel path really does feel like every enemy is a bullet sponge unless you have a min maxed build. The circuit sucks because all of my frames are not steel path ready lol. I do feel my play styles are restricted under steel path, like you said too many abilities just don't work and where not meant to go up against that much resistance. you can't really play as anything other than the top tier frames like mesa and sayrin unless you learn to abuse mechanics. I hate games where I have to abuse mechanics to keep up, kinda just takes me out of the game. I have been able to get by avoiding steel path, but the circuit and encarnon stuff kinda forced me to try to work it out. Although I think I play warframe more for all of my shiny primes more than for the gameplay at this point lol.
Im pretty sure ive seen a version where they actually changed it to look like a tanky. I guess these people where too lazy to even find that one lol.