Equating something like Smart Steering in MK to an easy mode in Dark Souls is a bit of a poor comparison in my eyes. For one, Mario Kart has pretty much always been a game meant for "everyone"; its art-style, popularity, multiplayer-focus, etc all point to this being the case. The Souls games, however, were never meant to be for everyone, they're M-rated games (which is why I won't be mentioning kids in my arguments) set in strange, cryptic fantasy worlds that found unexpected success from very humble beginnings.
But that's not what I want to focus on here, instead my point is; smart steering and a Souls easy mode are not the same thing. For a disabled person or someone brand new to gaming not being able to drift in Mario Kart or hold down the acceleration button were problems that were fixed with the new accessibility features whereas Ornstein and Smough taking fewer hits to take down means nothing if they can't manipulate the controls enough to allow them the precise dodging needed to avoid attacks. This is especially important as, in semi-linear games such as the Souls series, if the controls are a barrier-to-entry, even co-op might not help someone finish the game. Going back to Mario Kart: Jim points out that 50cc, to most, has failure as something that one has to actively aim towards, and that's always been the case, but only now that the game's implemented options to help those who find even that a challenge is it being applauded for allowing new people in; the same would happen with Dark Souls if they implemented an easy mode.
The thing is: for most people here the controls aren't a barrier to entry; they want an easy mode because they, instead, want in on the fun. That's fine mind you, the Souls games are excellent and I'd love for everyone to play them, but I can't find much sympathy for such a request when it's coming from able-bodied people who "don't want to become masochistic," or "want to beat it in the time they have." instead. Now don't get me wrong, if From decided to implement easy mode into Bloodborne 2 or Metroid: Dread Souls I wouldn't give a singular shit, I'm not against an easy mode in Dark Souls but I am, however, against co-opting legitimate accessibility issues by equating Smart Steering, a legitimate accessibility fix, to a less powerful Orphan of Kos. To do some of my own co-opting with the book example posted before; your desire for an abridged version of Moby Dick is nowhere near the same as a blind person's desire for a braille version of Moby Dick.
EDIT: Oh, and just to avoid any "high and mighty" remarks; I suck at Dark Souls. Every game required either cheesing tactics or copious summoning to complete; if there were an easy mode I would very likely use it.