Thought about that grindiness …
ME1 and ME2 – you'd do everything because you Wanted to. And doing stuff made the game easier because it advanced your character through experience.
ME£ – you do everything because you feel you Have to, it contributes to a "readiness" variable that affects the ending.
Wanting to do stuff > Having to do stuff
(and this is a crucial factor never to be forgotten when it comes to stuff that's supposed to be enjoyed)