Hold on here. In CRPGs you're not generally expected to know the mechanics when you start out. Normal mode is usually scaled such that a non mix-max party will have a pretty good chance at winning any giving encounter. As the game goes on, difficult ramps up. If you're played cRPGs before, normal mode shouldn't be a frustrating experience with a good difficulty curve.
Not really. You are actually supposed to learn the mechanics and the system and the eco system of the game as you play it for the first time and then play it all over a few times.
As you do so the difficulty actually ramps down.
I'm a long time cRPG player and some of the early fights are downright unfair.
No, they are elucidating.
IE you have pretty much zero chance of winning them the first time through even if you understand the mechanics pretty well.
thats an oxymoron statement.
Normal mode is what I'd expect for late game fights or difficult settings. You're tossed right into the deep end and expected to swim.

I enjoy a tactical challenge, but they're going to lose a lot of players with the difficulty curve in this game.
best seller on steam for how many days now?