Hardcore is just an option. If you put it that way, YES it is exciting and I do admire your... "HARDCORENESS"... whatever that means. But you got to keep in mind the lifestyle of each gamer. We may be able to enjoy the excitement of a hardcore from which death is a penalty but others doesn't have the time to REPLAY. Other gamers just ride the story and some others doesn't have the time to finish or to play Diablo III even if they want too (and I pity those guys -grin).
What I'm trying to say is it is an option. Not all of us have the leisure of diving into Diablo III.
BTW I also share your sentiment that you, "have no interest in paying real money for my Diablo items, and don't want to be in the same world as those who do." Yeah, economy sometimes burn the game...
BSEE10's comments