I pretty much agree with everything you said there. I started into Dark Souls at the beginning of March...and guess what...Its pretty much all I play now lol! Some of my friends get frustrated that I don't play COD BO2 with them much anymore, but honestly I can't help it. I'm sure I will get around to some of my other games at some point, but I take it Im not the only one that got completely sucked in by this dastardly frustrating yet incredibly rewarding game!
I'm on ng+ with first character and doing a Soul Level 20 playthrough with a sorcerer on my other. Im at the final boss finally with that one! It was a pain when one hit from many enemies and almost all bosses would outright kill me. I kept my vitality at 8 and just upgraded int, Attunements, and Endurance.
Anyways about DARK SOULS 2, I completely agree that they need to keep it's core Dark Souls/Demon Souls but for experienced players there needs to be some definite changed Dynamics to keep vets on their toes. I do agree that there needs to be a moderately difficult tutorial area for new players to prepare them with the mechanics of Dark Souls and the tools they will need to survive, but I would still love for them to throw some kind of a wrench at the beginning like they did with the other souls games that can easily kill you...IE the first Asylum Demon encounter. I ran in and got a Demons Greathammer to the face..and soon after a death....welcome to Dark Souls lol.
But a basic tutorial section would help the new comers. But I think a huge majority of the Souls Fanbase are screaming for From Software to keep any easy mode out. I for one feel that it would ruin what Souls is all about. Its traditional gaming...a seriously difficult challenge with no hand holding period. And rewards those that take the time to learn its encounters and obstacles. Thats what traditional gaming used to be. And I love that people can decide to do things that offer even more challenge...such as go through the game at very low level, or no rings, or wearing the calamity ring on ng+, or naked run (no armour).
I know some want an easy mode that would as they say open the door for more sales, but I say fooey. Keep Souls what it is with no difficulty settings. Just plain...here it is. This is what you get...now conquer it, and endure the pain. But it would be great if they included some kind of really nice reward system. Include a challenge system with achievements. Such as going through the game with a certain handicap and if done there is a NPC or a treasure chest with a really unique and bad ass looking armour set/weapon. Now they would probably have to balance it, but still awarding its veteran players with something like that would be very delicious. :)
