So I tried to come back to this game after a year or two and maybe it was longer than 10 minutes but on the first night I had only half a hut built, I slept, but it was still dark when I woke up and I was hounded by 2 shivers and a bowtorn which killed me 4 times back to back before the sun rose, typically a few seconds after I managed to pick up my stuff. I never managed to spot the bowtorn. I'm not a top tier player and I don't strive to be, but I have played before and I wasted no time getting flint, sticks, knapping, grabbing cattails, making bags, getting grass, making a bed, and building half a house before the first night. A new player would definitely not be as efficient.
All just to say, I concur with the OP at least at the coarse level, this was not fun. I was excited to come back to a game I used to love, to see the new content, but this is not balanced. This felt unfair, unfun and frustrating and so I guess I will not be playing it, which sucks.