User blog comment:KillHil/Got Questions for Gearbox about Borderlands 2?/@comment-2005959-20120319171105/@comment-3420061-20120321012728

If you follow the canonical series of PT1 -> PT2 -> PT2 DLC3 (core missions only, up to Loot Larceny) -> PT2 DLC1 -> PT2 DLC4 -> PT2 remainder of DLC3, then you'll play DLC1, DLC4, and much of DLC3 completely in auto-level mode. But it does make the opening of DLC3 a bit easy.

The fact that this sort of lore has to be discussed only proves your point. I pray that BL2 fixes this.