Instead of releasing a fresh basic hardcore server, why not release a new hardcore server made even more difficult, namely :
increase the number of monsters’ life points;
add spells to monsters;
add elite watches in areas that would patrol (a bit like Stitches in Duskwood);
make dungeons/raids more difficult: increase the number of life points + reduce the number of people per group (from 5 to 4 for example for dungeons, from 10 to 8 for raids 10 and from 40 to 30 for raids 40).
At the same time, the system of professions could be improved by making them more necessary: increase the possible income in each profession…
We could also favor groups by not reducing the shared experience when we group with people of the same level as ourselves.
Easy now This challenge is from 2012, and was invented bacause Cata was easy-mode It is not impossible in Classic Era - some have even made it to 60. But the HC mode we have now, is a descendant of this challenge.
Many have reached level 60 … looking for one, I found this guy who even did it in TBC Classic -. confirmed by a GM even I SO am ging to post this link in all threads where people say HC in TCB can’t be done!
1- The game is old
A- everyone knows the mechanics, the best talents, the best leveling routes, the dangerous quests.
B- the only difficulty of the game is its length: you have to invest a lot of your time.
In 2004, reaching 60 was already an accomplishment in itself. Doing Naxxramas was reserved to an elite who had a lot of playing time. In my opinion, this is what made this game so special.
2- the game needed to be refreshed: hardcore is a refresh because it allows you to revisit the vanilla version with a new feeling of accomplishment. That was make the success of this mode.
In 2022, the pattern was the same: getting to 60 without dying was a big thing, even in a 20-year-old game. Doing Naxxramas without dying was also reserved to an elite who had a huge amount of playing time.
We should therefore create an “elite” hardcore mode to give us back again the desire for this feeling of accomplishment.
Yes maybe but you are speaking about to play without the game (without professions, without stuffs, without donjons…).
I would like a mode where you actually could play the game (elite mobs and enhance professions for exemple).
If you play in White/grey gear, very many NPCs after level 30 are elite
I am with you on the professions being super-useful, and that’s why I’d like this IMC rule lifted for Classic. But then we’d need more white gear-recipes for higher levels.
Almost no open world NPC’s would pose a challenge for green/blue clad, buffed players in a group, only if you “elited” them so much that they would be insta-killing every solo player.
This challenge is from 2012, and was invented bacause Cata was easy-mode 
It is not impossible in Classic Era - some have even made it to 60. But the HC mode we have now, is a descendant of this challenge.