Interesting article and interesting classifications.
However, first, I want to point out that "core" does not mean "hardcore", just as "hat" does not mean "hardhat". They are separate things. "Hardcore" is a term that goes back a long, long ways, and basically means someone who is borderline obsessive. We used it in both Ragnarok Online and WoW to describe people who devoted extraordinary amounts of time and energy to the game. It's been several years since I played, but there was a HUGE rift between "casuals", who did not raid, and "hardcore raiders", who lived for raiding--the "casual raiders" like me were stuck in the middle.
Microsoft's official classifications are Core, Connected, Dabbler, and Family Timer. The Connected basically lines up with your Social gamer, and both Dabbler and Family Timer would be included as Casual. What's interesting is that you split up Core into Specialist and Expert. I admit that I haven't thought of it that way.
I'd be an Expert, though it feels strange to use that term, as I consider myself more of a Jack of All Trades. I like different kinds of games and I play on both PC and consoles. Variety in gaming is very important to me. I pretty much quit console gaming during the SNES period because almost everything was either a platformer or a beat 'em up and it bored me to tears. I think you're absolutely on the money with the description here, and I very much feel that this is why I gravitated to Sony consoles and PC gaming.
