It's also obscene in this day and age I can't upgrade my weapon to out damage the boss if I feel I need to. One of my pet peeves is having game designers feel like their design supersedes how I want to play.

If I absolutely do not want to play a boss; for whatever reason, I should be allowed to find an alternative way to get through that area. If grinding endlessly for damage is the alternative, fine. But at least there is one.