I'm somewhere in between. I really enjoy a good challenge, as long as it's skill based, and not moon logic

But I can't stand a game that's nothing but challenge. Dark Souls could have been SO much better if there were more of a world to explore and people to talk to. But it's just a bleak lifeless death trap that seems like it's just a gimmick for sadists. There's nothing to invest in. I played it for a few weeks. Got over the challenges. Learned how enemies work. And then got bored. There was nothing more to the game

So while I understand challenge ads enjoyment due to a sense of accomplishment, I don't think that can carry an experience. Not for me anyway. I hate easy games, but I'd much rather stuff my pride and put a game on easy and enjoy the story, than slog through a grind for no reward other than a hollow sense of achievement overcoming a game's ridiculous obstacle with no other reward than itself. A good story rewards by investment. Fun gameplay rewards by entertainment

I rarely replay games anyway, and when I do it's because they had some transcending factor that had nothing to do with difficulty. Had I ever beat Dark Souls I know I would have never played it again. As it stands, I have no interest in finishing it. Or any of the Ninja Gaiden games. Or the harder DMC games. Or anything like that. They're fairly hollow outside of the challenge

Taking a recent example of a game I played, Tales of Xillia, which is easy as hell. And also fun as hell. And I would love to replay it again before the sequel comes out. No challenge. Just super fun gameplay. Entertaining characters. A worthwhile world to explore again. And a halfway decent story

Around the same time, I was playing Dark Souls (just a couple months ago)