I feel much controversy comes from a misunderstanding of the context of which Hardcore is used when reffering to gamers. People hear hardcore and want to relate that to being "gangstar" or "cool" and not the context in which it is used.

The context is they commonly use games.

Habitual  - commonly used, followed, observed, etc., as by a particular person; customary: She took her habitual place at the table.

Now the reason you will never here the industry use this term is it can be interpitted as having a gaming habit. Which again would be out of context. Just because you habitualy do something does not mean you have a habit.

Either way I purpose that when in conversation here we use the term "Habitual Gamer" in place of hardocre gamer this way people will not get offended by thinking someone is implying beating the crap out of a hooker is not hardcore.

Thoughts

I wouldn't say hardcore gamers are those that simply play a lot. I know plenty of people that stay actively informed of the gaming world around them, but simply have little time to actually play games anymore. While they may not play very often, they are certainly hardcore.

The 15 year old that plays GTA all day because he has nothing else to do would be considered hardcore by your definition, when he is really just a casual with no life.

Hardcore gamers are hobbyists, really.  They keep actively informed about (and quite often actively discuss) an activity that they enjoy.

I just thing in the vain of the industry term when they say BloodRayne 10 is meant for hardcore gamers they are more reffering to those who will buy regulary. They don't really care if you play.

So maybe regular gamer would be better but that is a synonym of habitual.