QuakeWorld players considered Q2 and Q3 lame and not hardcore enough.\n\nQ3 players considered CS lame and not hardcore enough.\n\nCS players considered CS:Source lame and not hardcore enough.\n\nSo what people think of a game is irrelevant.  The relevant aspect is the strength of the community: number of teams, number of fans, amount of community-driven coverage.  The opinions of the people that don't play your game don't matter.