There are certainly a lot more people playing normal than hardcore, but we've just found hardcore to suit our needs and offer a better experience. People not dying when you shoot them is infuriating enough but twice as bad in normal mode, and the HUD seems largely superficial when we've got other teammates healing us and re-arming us.
I'll add you on Battlelog so we can get gaming, and if you're up for hearing some foul language feel free to join our Teamspeak 3 on 85.236.100.27:16057
See you soon for some pew pew pew!
Stryk