MEgaman & Bass is the game that HATES YOU! It's like the level designers said to themselves. "Okay we all hate gamers. I just wish we had a way of making them understand just how much we hate them. I know how about insanely long levels, mets that can take a charge shot, no E-tanks, no Rush transports, and the second King stage should have four bosses, one of which should be autoscrolling over a pit with moving platforms that the boss can destroy, and can blind you. Yeah if we do all of that I think they will understand our hatred."
So yeah, MM9 is challenging until you get things figured out and start using the proper weapons in the right places, but ultimately it's made out of love, while Megaman & Bass is made of hate.