There is strategy involved, just not a fun one. For the consulate, you need to extinguish all the necrofire within 40m or so of their deaths, otherwise they respawn in it.
Inside the portal, you need to destroy the six or so mirrors, otherwise the enemies will again respawn, similarly to the tedious busy-work of getting into the dream. So not only can it be experienced as annoying, but it's twice or even thrice over the same mechanic, making it drag out a bit too long, even if you somehow do enjoy the mechanic.
I found it particularly annoying that magic spells wouldn't damage the mirrors, nor would attacking them in melee with a staff. The only attacks actually dealing damage to the mirrors was right-click "Attack" wearing anything but a staff, or ranged bow attacks. Which is an odd thing even on it's own.
So I'm inclined to agree, definitely not one of the game's stronger design points. Particularly also because it becomes a bit too overused in a consecutive manner.
