Oh man, accidental Hard Mode. Been there.
Interestingly, the game's denouement is ambiguous enough that a lot of players have argued that a ZeroR win (to use fandom terminology) gets you the best ending!
I actually hadn't heard of "It Ate Cleveland" until just now, despite what some quick googling has revealed to be some incredible similarities -- I cribbed the title from the end of the theatrical version of Little Shop of Horrors. Great minds, man.