Thanks for checking out HARDCASE and giving thoughtful feedback! I'm really touched that you chose it as your first solo/journaling game, and I'm sorry it was a bit of a bumpy ride.
HC1e is more of a box of parts than anything else - which I don't say as a defense of it, but an accurate reflection on what I made. If you want to see some experiments in adding more structure, HC Mini boils the game down into a smaller, week-long experience with clearer guardrails, while the Mysteries in TRUTHSEEKER are meant to be a similar "What do I actually DO in this?" option. It's definitely something on my mind as I work on HC2e, which'll have the benefit of being 60ish pages instead of 24; I'm enjoying the room to stretch my legs a little bit.
I also want to shout out THE PHANTOM OF THE MARIA SERAPH as a great little HARDCASE 'adventure' and a format I'd love to imitate in the future. It definitely zooms in play in a way that I find really exciting and comprehensible.