So im level 25 stealth assassin character, initially my plan was to use a lot of alchemy but anybody feel that alchemy level progress progresses WAY too slow? The amount of potions you have to make just to raise it one level is ridiculous therefore you cant upgrade the tree all that much, just my thought. Or am i doing something wrong?

It is a bit tedious, but worth it if you're into min maxing your gear. Such as taking a crafting potion pre blacksmithing and enchanting your gear.

I think it's good that a few things remain difficult

I haven't had too much of a problem, and I love some of the potions and poisons you can make. As far as leveling it is slower than say smithing, where you can level up making three helmets, but leather/ingots are harder to come by than ingredients. I would recommend investing some money in purchasing a ton of ingredients from a shop and just make a bunch of potions/poisons then sell them. You will make a profit, and you will increase your skill significantly. (of course you will have to waste quite a few to learn the effects of ingredients, unless you want to just look them up in an FAQ, personally I like to test them myself)

yea, I ate 1 of everything except nirnroot. I remembered it's glory in Oblivion.

I am also trying to increase my Akcemy, I am finding that it takes time but like was said previously I am kind of glad that it is not easy. I am taking time away from the main quest and exploring abd increasing skils.

Idk, I love grabbing all those ingredients and toilling away at the table figuring out the different uses for all the stuff.

I was a little upset when I found out "failing" a mixture doesn't add to the experince of Alchemy but meh. Crafting stronger potions makes the skill bar go up faster so lean towrds those stronger poisions and health potions. When I sit down with ingredients I know will make good potions/poisions its not hard to level up two or 3 times in one sitting.

Basic tip: The stronger the Potion the more skill you'll gain fro creating it.

Grinding is tedious, not difficult.

Hmm... I find alchemy is keeping pace with other skills. But I make it a point to pick daisies and catch butterflies, and I brew things not particularly useful to me as a dedicated mage (such as poisons).

I found a book in the world that told me a couple ingredients that have invisibility.
This will prove quite useful indeed

I trained my Alchemy almost all the way to 90. The healing potions I make have saved me a bunch, as well as the poisons.