PixlBit

Hardcore mode exists because Diablo is, at it's core, a Roguelike.  Roguelikes typically feature permadeath.  This is just a way for people to make it more of a true roguelike if they want. This is also why the default keybinding for using a potion is "Q."  That's what it was in Rogue.

I also totaly get the appearance thing.  I'll sacrifice stats in Xenoblade just to have my characters look good.  It helps with immersion.

I can't stand when armor creates changes in appearance if it means that you're stuck with one suit at the end-game that's better than the rest. I can't stand it. For me, the alteration of how a character looks is rarely a decision in the gear I equip in various circumstances, but it really annoys me when a company goes through tons of time to make so many different armors, and end/post-game, you're stuck with just one that's really worth it.

That never occurred to me.  Hmmm.  Well I suppose that could be annoying.  Maybe someone will come up with the idea that you 'unlock' the look of any armor you equip so that you can change your character's appearance without sacrificing their stats.  That would be cool.

I noticed that in Dragon Quest 9... false advertising.

@Jason I kinda feel the same way. I've been playing a lot of Oblivion again with a new character and even though some of the armor designs are pretty cool, you end up quickly getting stuck with the best set of armor for the rest of the game. My character is an expert in light armor, and I've been stuck with the same Glass set of armor (apparently the best when compared to Fur, Leather, Chainmail, and Mithril) and it gets pretty old.

One of the reasons I really like Fable games is because you can personalize everything, you can wear whatever you want, shop for whatever you want, and customize colors how you want. There's downsides to that obviously, there's no armor lol. I like my RPGs and I love being able to compare stats, get excited about a new set of protective armor, and to put it plain and simple I like all the numbers and analysis of it. With Fable the clothes are just aesthetic. I'd like to have games where that level of aesthetic personalization runs current with a deep statistical system I can chomp on.