I didn't really ever run out of high level weapons (relative to where I was at). The only time I had to start downgrading my weapons was early on, after I left the desert area I went to first, and it makes sense that they didn't just let me crush the rest of the game with the much stronger weapons you find there.

I think it's a brilliant way of preventing the "welp you found an early 30+ damage 1h sword 4 hours in, might as well just delete the weapon changing menu because significant upgrades don't exist" that the game would otherwise run into.

Also, I like what it does with the combat before you have a huge stash of good weapons. The early fights where you're breaking sticks over peoples heads to knock their weapons out of their hands to use them against them were my favorite fights in the game by far.

Basically, I just want the game to be more like the plateau and eventide island because those are the best pieces of content it has.