I just have a 55 right now, taking my time just enjoying the journey, and definitely not “sacrificing” anything like the poster above. It’s a hunter which I do think makes it “easier” but tons of hunters die too. 
I hated skipping quests at the start so I’ve been doing all of them including the caves ones and most elite ones. I never did hardcore wow before and totally expect(ed) to die, and I know I could still before or after 60, and was prepping on Era to transfer there after death. Maybe I’ll have a different outlook when I level the next class.
I do play more cautiously than when I was for example leveling this Era Mootwo where I did die several times.
As I said on the hardcore forum I think hardcore is a good game mode for people who like that sort of playstyle and I think it will continue to be populated enough. It’s just missing some of what I personally like.
I’m pretty sure you asked that because I said I didn’t get how people kept dying before 20 (I didn’t die on my 10 shammy, 10 warrior, or 18 mage yet either, or on any other toon) but I also posted that thought in this thread on this forum and not on the hardcore forum as I didn’t post it intending to be rude, I instead legit find it odd.
I do prefer world pvp to BGs.