I really enjoy playing PoE, but one of the reasons that I loved Diablo 3 is because grinding meant that I would eventually find the gear that I needed for my character. For sure it's a bit more casual, but it's nice to just sit down and take out some monsters and climb grifts, not having to worry about getting higher tier map drops, having currency to roll maps, finding solid items to list for sale, and make successful trades.

PoE is meant to be grindy; the idea is that it should be difficult to get the gear that you need - this increases the player's time spent in the game. They have stated many times that they don't want to make it easier for the player to obtain items. Because of this, there is a stark contrast between D3 and PoE. It's almost too easy in D3, where you get bored sooner because you're kitted out faster. In PoE, they make you really work for everything, which encourages you to stick around longer and keep playing.