Time sinks are not skill based. Almost everything in Ark is a time sink.

Makes sense, since I said if you wanted that, you should play a skill based game.

If you don't want to play a game that works on time put in, don't play games like this. They are ALL like this.

You seem to not really understand the way the game works, this is fine, but I'm sorry you were under the impression that it was different. Myself and the entire server I play on seem to do just fine with all of this. We learn the game, we learn the best stat builds, we change builds when the time calls for it. Mindwipes are pretty damn cheap, in case you didn't know that item existed. Look it up, good stuff.

What you also don't seem to undertand is how hardcore works. I wouldn't ever play a game like this hardcore, becasue I simply don't understand why you would, but I've been a hardcore player since AOL. I have PLENTY of experience with it. Sadly, I'll have to inform you that if you play hardcore, unless the game is complete shit and really easy, very large portions of the game are cut off to you. This makes sense, seeing as how no game dev in their right mind would ever balance the game around hardcore. People on official servers would be done with the game in a week if that was the case.

Feel free, as I've said before, to play on higher rates. The game is balanced around tribe play over the course of a few months, not small sprints of play. That's just a fact. If you want to get to higher levels, play a different game mode or with higher rates.

If you want to keep playing HC, stop complaining about it being hard and you being forced to use more difficult or tedious methods. That's HC in a nutshell.

Seems maybe you're the casual one. Learn how to power level yourself if you keep dying.