That is incredible.
How did you ever play Diablo again after losing a character with more than a thousand hours into it? How did it make you feel? My apologies for the questions, I am just very surprised and curious.
No problem at all, I'd be glad to tell you.
Playing a hardcore (single death) character is one of the most rewarding style of gameplay I have ever experienced. To really understand, you have to understand that the gameplay is whats important, not the death. The death is just the price of admission. To me there is no greater high than taking on a boss, or a badass elite pack, and fighting for my life, knowing that if I make a mistake its over. Playing with friends added to this feeling.
But back to your question; How did I ever play again? Well one factor is that when you die in Diablo hardcore, you still keep your gear stash, so after 1000 hours, I had a whole lot of kickass gear in my stash. Sure I had to re-level from zero, but when I got to max, I could hit the ground running and work my way back to the top.
How did it make me feel? I have probably lost at least 5 characters with over 300 hours. I experienced a range of emotions. every one was different. I lost one to a reflect damage spike. That straight up pissed me off. but thats the risk you take when you play hardcore, and I would pay that price over again if thats what it takes.
Most of the other deaths left a smile on my face. I lost my barb on greater rift 52, solo. I was 3 minutes from clearing it and clearing a new personal best on ladder. I procc'd my death passive, and i knew I was in trouble. My heart went through the roof. the problem was, I had just ran from another crazy pack back near the entrance, so with a quick decision I had to go deeper into the rift and try to find some space to regenerate. I didnt find it - but i survived for a good 2 minutes while running my ass off and trying to proc some life on hit.. It was the most intense two minutes of gaming of my life. After I died, I was just like... fuck yah. Had I survived that fight, I would have said the exact same thing.
and thats why I play hardcore. Theres no feeling like it.