You might check the angle of the arm going into the clutch cover to the cable.
There are shims internally that sit under the push rod that change that angle.
If the angle is <80º, you can remove a shim, if more than 90º add a shim.
The point is to have the arc of the arm provide the most amount of linear travel of the push rod. That will happen at the above ºs. You'll get more movement with the arm traveling from 11-1300 hours than you will if it moves from 13-1500 hours (24 hour clock).
Maybe the clutch wasn't set up correctly in the first place?
In any case, DO ensure there is freeplay at the lever as RV6 said. You don't want the clutch 'on' all the time.
And, yea verily, it is harder to start/push/move the bike in gear with the clutch pulled than when it's in neutral. 'Harder' doesn't mean it won't start in gear. It does..and fairly easily if the clutch is working. It's just somewhat harder that way.