Could someone please encourage me to keep playing DS1? Does it get better?

I recently borrowed a copy of DS Remastered from a friend (along with DS2 and 3), and I played it for about 2 hours. I just reached the blacksmith, and I'm just not enjoying this game at all. It feels more tedious than fun. For reference, I have beaten both Sekiro and Elden Ring (all achievements in both) numerous times. I have 81 and 275 hours in each game, respectively. I’ve done countless challenge runs and completed them (RL1, Charmless Demon Bell, though I haven't finished that one yet since I dropped it for DS), so it isn't the difficulty that's the problem.

I know, old game feels old, duh, but the way people rave about this game and keep going back to it made me feel like there must be something other than nostalgia that I'm missing. The combat is slow, rolling is especially slow, and half the enemies are in large groups that I have to keep clearing or risk dying since the bonfires are very spaced out. You can't move while healing, and the animation takes ages. I understand that FS isn't straightforward with its storytelling and level design, but everywhere I go I feel like I'm too weak. I went down the stairs instead of going up to the Taurus Demon, and this big fat guy takes 17 damage. Fine, I ignore him and run outside. Same thing there: the ice golems also take no damage. Fine, I run past them. I see a little ledge I can follow I try to go down there, boom, a knight that takes no damage and three-shots me. I ignore this area and move on. Now there’s a boar that takes no damage since it has armor. I ignore it. There’s a non-boss HUGE humanoid guy in armor before the blacksmith in what looks like a church, and I didn’t even try to fight him.

I don't see the appeal of the level design. It's okay, I guess. I’m not comparing it to ER since that game is entirely different, but it’s not the pinnacle of level design people talk about. Then again, I'm only 2 hours in, so I obviously haven't reached the “good” areas.

I take a shit ton of damage, I deal none, I’m slow (not fat-rolling by the way, medium rolling, but even that is slow as hell, so I switched to light rolls, since the damage absorption of my armor is minimal), my weapon breaks apparently, and I need to reinforce my armor as well. I just feel so in over my head with all these mechanics that just seem unnecessary to me. Why does my weapon chip and need to be repaired? That’s such a stupid mechanic for a Dark Souls game to have. Breath of the Wild just barely managed to pull it off.

TLDR: I'm weak and slow, the enemies are strong and many, and I'm not enjoying the game. I want some advice. Also, no “git gud” shit. It's not funny nor helpful, which are the only two types of responses I want. This isn't really a skill issue; I 100% have the skill to beat this game. The question is more whether it's worth my time.