Only ever ascended that way - truly lovely way up apart from the section of the Watkin.
Yes, the top bit of the Watkin path is quite tiring. In fact the Watkin path is a funny beast all round. The first couple of miles is as gentle a track as any on Snowdon, until you then start to ascend Lliwedd, (when it’s steep), and then onto Snowdon (when it’s steeper, and loose).
In fairness, quite a bit of that final but is stepped now, so it’s not as bad as it was.