A similar English expression might be "low-hanging fruit", but again for some reason we've attached negative connotations to it. I don't know why English keeps doing that. It feels so cynical.

It's not a fault of the language, it's the culture. "Average" and "mediocre" both have negative connotations in vernacular use as well, even though they're normal and should be expected. If we expect excellence and world-shaking performance as the standard, good enough will not be good enough.

I don't think "low hanging fruit" has negative connotations attached to it.

The only negative sentiment tangentially associated with it is that when it's exhausted, further progress slows down.

Or "right in front of your face". Though that's used with and without negative connotations.

It's more like "nearby, on the ground".

Yeah, I think saying "near lying" or "close to lying" would be less confusing. Also that is actually the order in the German word also! Because it consists of 2 words written as 1.