Let's be real here, are you enjoying the league with your build?

Sorry man but if you really think seismic trap and DD are the only viable builds to stop to loot without dying, I don't know what to say. Tons of other skills have the same defenses, I would say those 2 just shine in damage, not it defenses.
I don't want to dis your PoE skills but I would at least check how your defenses are built.
Also my friend who I play PoE with isn't the best player by any means and he does great on his lightning striker in our private league... sure we don't get to red maps day 2, not at all, byt that's not the point, maybe you're expecting to have godlike gear in the first weekend and check if that matches your play time...

I'm doing some Caustic Arrow ballista shenanigans and yeah I can stop to loot without dying most of the time ;)

No.

I chose to blend a couple of guides into a wand attacking build, knowing that it might be a challenging starter. I didn't realize that monster mods were being so significantly changed, and it has huge ramifications for a lot of leagues' content I used to enjoy. Some monsters are massive bullet sponges, and I'm really worn out already.

It has been a challenge, got killed 2 times in a row in Merc Lab.
I haven't died in Lab Trials in years.

First time I'm playing DD and if anything it feels like a below average build to me. Wish I just started with ED instead.

Really amazed at how many people seem to think it's the game's fault. It's not. Players get tired of playing. Normal. But don't blame the game.

I’m quite enjoying my Tornado Shot leveling build now with Soulthirst. Super wonky and anti-meta for no Omniscience (yet).

Yeah I am. but had to invest 5ex to do white maps properly

Actually enjoying the challenge. Yes died much more than usual at first because I was going in like I had in previous leagues where the mobs were not much more than toilet paper. Now, that they have been buffed, I have have went back to my more strategic attacks. Feels much more like the early days of POE. Liking it a lot, so far.

Im not having fun with all the dying... feels like my char is bugged cause i have armor and evasion (more then most other chars ive made before) and still just dying none stop to random stuff

For the most part my build is fine damage wise (felt kinda sucky in the first red map i did tho)

All mob damage needs to get hit with like 50% less damage and life or something

Also move speed and all the other shit... you gotta be immune to everything and have every god power on with flasks that do all types of things to actually play now and even then you need 500% res/spell sup/4534543534 armour/evasion block BLAH