I won't presume to speak for all of them. But I will suffice it to say that I have had a few players contact me, who might be at odds with that generalization.
My generalization was based on the assumption that most serious players are looking for authenticity over feel, a true hardcore player is likely going to want to play the game as close to the way it was originally as possible. I understand it's highly subjective though and I'm sure there are plenty of people in both camps like any other debate here.
Or you can shoot for advancing your skills which is a lot based on your Robotron Quotient (RQ) of score divided by wave.
If you are a learning robo marathoner you'll be in the 27k-29k range, advanced 29k-31k, and masters play in the 32k-34k range per wave which means they die less and are able to bend risk vs reward to getting more humans while staying alive to get the progressive 5k bonuses.
Interesting, based on my RQ and a high score of ~3 million I'm in the advanced range but I'd say I get honorary 'hardcore' status for restoring my own original machine.
Feel and Authenticity are one in the same. Meaning... you can not have one without the other.
Robotrons heavy resistance need the ends of stroke, helps absorb and cushion the player from excess impact shock... as well as aid in
recycling energy (rebound).
Much like wearing dress shoes at work on concrete floors, without any shock absorbing inserts... would really start to fatigue ones
feet / legs quickly. Slamming the sticks full bore into the end of stroke... results in the same effect. Its not as bad in other
games... because most games are nowhere near as Intense as Robotron... thus one may be less likely to use as much power and
momentum... during play.
The problem is and always will be... that there is no such thing as a One-Size-Fits-All solution, that actually works great
for all applications. Despite what the Business Marketers will Push and Claim.
Sure, you can, for example... make your footfalls lighter in dress shoes. But the problem is... under intense pressure... you will
forget, and easily slam ones full mass into the heels, regardlessly. Same for Robotron. Few players are going to play the game
like Data from Star Trek. Watch some footage of people playing it... and you will see full body movements... and the Cabinet often
Rocking around as a result.
Pick the right Shoe for the Right Job type. Dont expect long boots to work well on the Football field, as well as they work in deep
snow. Same for choosing the right kind of car, or even Tool. Yeah, you could use a butter-knife to turn a screw... but you will
surely regret it... after the 10th screw... let alone 100th.