I think the most obvious argument for GTA being a fundamentally hardcore game is its length. With the story clocking in at up to 40 hours and obtaining 100% at 80-100 hours clearly GTA does not cater to the casual gamer. On the contrary I would argue that it brings out what I would call real gamers, i.e. people who are prepared to put hundreds of hours into getting 100%.
Furthermore, there is the huge amount of effort which has gone into the story and the very high quality voice acting to go with it, as well as an insane amount of detail and extra content for those willing to look for it. These things are the bread and butter of hardcore gamers. There is no way that the game is made in order to satisfy casuals.
The fact that the sandbox nature of the game appeals to casual gamers is, in my view, incidental. The game is not targeted at casuals and I do not believe it is chiefly played by casuals (but obviously a lot of casuals do play it).
GTA as a series, not just GTA IV, is undoubtedly a hardcore franchise, perhaps even definingly so, which happens to have elements to it which appeal to casual gamers. Hence the massive sales.
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