All fretted instruments are easier to play, it depends on what standard is aimed for. Look at someone like Steve vai and the audition he passed to play for Zappa, the musical questions Zappa asked him, its very amusing, then you get the busker on the street, totally different things. like my uncle pete aged 85 he took up Ukelele after his wife died, never played an instrument in his life , six months later he was playing it and singing in a local club, they all enjoy it, have a sing along and tap their feet which is what its all about, I think a lot of people lose sight of the fact its enjoyment, unless your someone like Vai, where it is their living.

I will never be particularly good at fidde, I am happy if I can play it in tune to be honest, and dont really care what others think if truth be told, but I would never put down anyone who has put the time in to try and learn no matter what the instrument is, and it angers me when others do, if I heard someone play piano for instance that wasnt very good I would still applaud them for doing aomething I cant, or at least trying to do.

Violin is a challenge thats why I took it up myself, nothing wrong with that, Any musical instrument takes practice to play some are just harder than others.