It has nothing to do with wanting the game "hardcore" but really I don't get a lot of people (this goes for any MMO) They want now now now, quick, easy. I dont want to play an MMORPG that I can "finish" in 3 months -.-
I played FFXI for 7 years, and loved every day of it, the only reason I quit was the same reasons I mentioned above, the latest minisodes to be exact. Leveling from 30-90 in a few days and making 75% of all the older content pointless?...... no thanks