Not really needle in a haystack at all they could've actually put them in impactful places instead of under rocks or metal doors.
It would also have actually made maxing the inventory a challenge and the game lacks a lot of challenge in many regards as well as meaning you had to plan what...
The problem with korok seeds is the fact after 450 there is literally no reward for them, if they had removed half of them it would've made them actually worthwhile instead of something picked up at random rocks.
By this i mean did they overdo it on the inclusion of somethings?
For me the 2 most overdone things that were unnecessary had to be the armor, their effects and Korok Seeds.