Is the map system humane design?

If you look at it technically, no, it is not. However, this is presumably what people like doing. The grind to 100 is not humane, but it is what people who play this game enjoy doing. I dislike coming home and playing anything other than a mindless grind at the end of the day. But that mindless grind is amazing, as inhumane an activity it is.

Extra Credits can be good, but not all their videos necessarily relate to all types of games. PoE tries to keep to the philosophies of older games on purpose. Not because they are following the inhumane ways of days past, but because their niche market like it. And I do like it.