What I don't get is why the cultivators are always astonished by divine herb this and divine herb that and how it will create carnage and conflict, but these villagers seem to consume and drink these things all the time, despite the fact that they appear to be ordinary mortals. Are they as powerful as the MC and unaware of it, or are they merely mortals?

Yes

I am aware that this is how Gojo would behave in Naruto, but the issue is that Gojo isn't actually that guy—it's a guy who was resurrected with Gojo abilities—so there's no reason to behave in the same way.

Which moron came up with the idea that it's bad to get stronger while you're young? Because of his illness and genetic characteristics, Itachi did not become stronger after unlocking his Mangekyō Sharingan, while Kakashi did not become stronger because the Sharingan was continually eating his chakra and his low genetic makeup because he is simply a human and has no link to the Ōtsutsuki Clan.

Isn't this only a copy of "Beware of Chicken"?