Nice issue although I would disagree a bit with your comments regarding Hard Mode particularly in Tyria. As you know, when Tyria was designed it did not account for the several hundred new skills that were added with chapter 2 and 3 as well as Heroes. What Hard Mode brings is a game that is at least slightly challenging from one that was frankly just too easy for experienced players who have unlocked all the skills in all three chapters. I have found that most of the missions do require at least some build planning with two real players with heroes in order to complete the mission plus bonuses in Hard mode. I still have a few more to go though and expect to need to get a full guild group for Ring of Fire missions.

I find Vanquishing to be a bit of a grind but at least the drops are better. I am about halfway through Elona Vanquishing and have found a few spots to be quite challenging when using just heroes and hench - like Poisoned Outcrops which took me over two hours to clear - lol.

I like Hard Mode overall as it gives the veteran players something to work on until GW:EN comes out.