Ya but the “normal” gamemode in PoE is miles ahead in terms of challenge of anything D4 does. You do not necessarly need a hard mode in PoE the game is already quiet challenging.
As far as i know that ruthless mode does not make the game harder and only reduced the loot by a lot.(but i am not sure here someone else can tell better i think)
Since Rod fegusson is talking about “Power fantasy here and Playerpower that there” i can barely see any chance for D4 to become a challenging and dark game. He is clearly aiming for a simple clickfest game. Hey fine if poeple like this do it. Why waste diablo on it though, could had been any diablo “sideproject”, World of diablo or so… This is Diablo 4 i except a real diablo.