I don't think it's about a "hardcore blobbing experience" at all. I have one foot in each camp, I love both of them, for different reasons. CK2 was the first Paradox game I went completely crazy on, and that game is all about funny situations as well as odd and disturbing ways in which you can manipulate the world, while also scratching the empire building itch.

It took a couple of years of trying to force myself into getting EU4, as I sorely missed the storytelling/character-based aspect of CK2, but once I got past those initial stages, I realized how much potential EU4 had. EU4 is a game where you set a seemingly impossible goal for yourself, and it's so satisfying reaching that goal, every time. EU4 is more of a challenge (at least if you want it to be), while CK2 is more of a sandbox.