It's the easiest method.As much as I hate to admit it, that’s how 5e makes it work best.
My my ideal ranger would have low-key magic or talents that borderlines the supernatural. I’d like to give them a choice within a list rather than impose abilities at set levels. To balance it out it needs some meta-resources. At that point they might as well be spells and spell-slot-fuelled abilities since the system already make extensive use of that.
Still think Infusions are better and more thematic for ranger