I think From Software has been hesitant to include an easy difficulty or pause feature because a big aspect of the game is its online elements. Creating a separate difficulty mode would split the user base, potentially making it more difficult for people to cooperate or invade (I'm assuming that they would separate easy and normal players from playing with each other), and the pause feature would probably only be feasible during offline mode (although FS has always encouraged players to play the game online for all of the features), since I doubt that you would be able to pause the game while online.

Ultimately, the Souls games aren't really that difficult at all ("hard" modes on many contemporary games are much more difficult), they just don't hold the players' hands. While I wouldn't be against an easy mode or pause during offline play for those that want it, I can see why From Software wouldn't include them.

Too much accessibility will ruin the series.

Adding different difficulty modes would not work. The challenge of the game is what defines it, therefore its not for everyone.

I'm expecting good things from Dark Souls 2 (I have faith in From), hopefully the game is released this year. I know that may be wishful thinking but considering that Demon's Souls came out in 2009 and then 2 years later in 2011 Dark Souls came out then a (late) 2013 release doesn't seem unreasonable.

It really doesn't have to.  Accessibility could be as simple as adding in a different mode.  The only people that would feel the series is ruined are those who are too uptight about games having to be so hardcore that no one else can play it.

Anyone can play it. You just need to invest time and focus on what your doing.

And another thing. The main difficulty from DS isn't even the gameplay, it comes from not understanding the game/lack of knowledge. A good player can be half way done with the game in 1 hour if they understand it. With an easy mode it would be an extremely medicore and short game. I just don't see how anyone could enjoy it with an easy mode.

You can say that it doesn't effect the people that would just play it on hard but that just isn't true. It not only cheapens the experience and throws away the entire point of the game but with how Online works which is a huge part of the game for many, It just wouldn't work.

The whole point of the game is its punishing difficulty and how through experience you learn to overcome it ( it's not about  crazy skills it's about learning how to fight the diverse opponents).

Remove that and there really isn't much else...  

heck if you want lower difficulty watch the videos of someone playing the game..

PS : I wonder how many of those asking for a lower difficulty level have actually played the game. I am going to guess, not many.

Adding options does not detract from a game.
If you want it to stay hard, don't play easy mode.

C'mon now. Other recent entries in hardcore JRPG franchises have survived the addition of options that make the game more accessible.

Something as simple as a mode that lessens the penalty for death would be a way to make the game more accessible without changing the actual level design or how combat works.

My point exactly.  

Honestly, the people saying that it takes away from the game sound kind of like the same people who argue that gay marriage takes away from their marriage.  It really is the same kind of logic.