Before going further about HC game/gamers, let’s take a look at what HC game actually means and whether GD would like to fit in:
hardcore game
Any game in which successful completion or demonstration of skill requires a significant investment of both time and effort on the part of the player.
(Source: urbandictionary, recommended by Google :P)
Then we start to see what a hardcore gamer means:
Hardcore gamer: Ernest Adams and Scott Kim have proposed classification metrics to distinguish “hardcore gamers” from casual gamers, emphasizing action, competition, complexity, gaming communities, and staying abreast of developments in hardware and software.
(Source: Wiki Pedia, yep the one you and I can contribute to)
Frankly, GD would be one of the h&s ARPGs that fit almost all principles of HC game: one needs to invest significantly on time and effort to pass Ultimate or Gladiator 170 or the goal oneself sets. Furthermore, most active GDers will fit the metrics defined above, especially when you and I use the forum provided here to communicate, show off own BDs, report feedbacks and bugs in the hope that this game could be in a better SHAPE with our contributions, the last would be the source for devs here to made developments/adjustments.
From my understanding, HC gamers are no different from causal gamers in the definition of normal human being, HC gamers only invest more time and efforts to find out what story the devs really want to tell through the game, including testing all skills provided to form the BDs to demonstrate the unique ideas and pathways, this may include testing channeling skills and report the inefficiency to the community and devs because we all want GD becomes a better game.
Again, like the op mentioned, we are not here to argue, nor to insult the devs as “consensus being made is that the devs are idiots”, further a BIG NO to boast ourselves as “the top 1% of players”. We ARE here to communicate, to report bugs/provide feedbacks on the gaming experience, to contribute to make this game better.