ELI5: EIP 1559 is in effect. Gas prices are still...

...Well let's just say that most transactions still cost a lot more than the old standard $6.95 per trade (from traditional finance, which was also outrageous but I digress lol).

Maybe Ethereum doesn't want to be inexpensive? As the premium blockchain they have every right to make that choice. I don't judge them if it's true, but what does the future hold? Am I right?

I know it's not finished and we have not seen its long term effect (EIP 1559) but how is defi going to be open to the masses and become popular, addictive, and sustainable when transactions go something like this:

Paid $10 in eth to deposit into smart contract. Expensive but okay....Wait, it says transaction approved. So why is it now asking me for another $48.03?You mean the $10 was just to give myself permission to do what I'm trying to do, and then I still have to do it? Well geez that could have mentioned that in the original price quote.

/end of rant

Question: Is this the network we are going to have with Ethereum? Is it always going to be more money than a normal person would expect to pay? Congested network or not, is what we are looking at right now the new and improved norm? Or is there still more improvement in lower gas prices coming from EIP 1559? Thanks