Henroo
Oh Wise One
There seems to be a wide range of what players and the developers consider "hardcore" .
I, for example, consider a player who did 8 provinces 5 times to be WAY more hardcore than one who did 25 provinces twice because they are playing and doing the tournament every. single. day.
This is something I hope we've mentioned enough in this feedback since @Marindor first mentioned 25 players doing 6x6*
Doing 5 stars is not that hardcore. Try doing 6 stars in the first 5 or 6 provinces while working 50+ hours a week.