Depending on the style you're playing, hard gives you 9-12 misses in a row before you die. You fall out of 80% margin in normal mode after about 6, so it's useful if the ending is difficult.
FYI, I have only a few songs left to Hard Clear that I've cleared normally, notably GAMBOL [a], rage against usual [a], Scripted Connection A mix [a], and BLUE MIRAGE [a]. It helps you learn to hit more notes as well, so it's kind of like training yourself to full combo songs.
Hard mode can also work against you though, such as in PLEASE DON'T GO [a], where you have to make it past the first wall of jackhammers, the middle part with the offbeat/syncopated rhythm, and the last wall of jackhammers. You're much more likely to die than to make it through, unless you're on the road to AAAing the song D: Innocent Walls 7k and [a], One More Lovely [a], and FAKE TIME [a] work similarly, where they have extremely difficult parts before the ending to further drain your lifebar.
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