What you describe can happen if the DM is unexperienced and only can come up with complications that are either take damage or stress. With an experienced DM it can be turned into an Indians Jones adventure where there are things happening and getting more complicated each time, like in the Venice canals or plane fight or motorcycle pursuit in the last crusade.

If the DM aims for a hopeless grim tone it can be achieved but that is limiting the game possibilities. Also I like games that can go from one end to the other with a DM capable of managing emotions and the ritm of the adventure.

It's an incredible complex and hard system, I have read it 4 times during 2 years before I was brave enough to DM it. It's challenging but also provide a lot of fun.

Have you played call of cthulhu? I don't think there is much difference on how difficult is to success and survive. This game also can be converted into a pulp experience.

Are you are coming from other heroitic fantasy games? Bitd it's just a different game that aims for a different tone.

Just came to cry of a 2 years drought since my players are working temporarily abroad :'(

Wizards, because the rituals can solve a lot of problems and provide many sidequests.