Of course vCoH wasn't "hardcore" but it had a depth hardcore players could go against, specifically competitive 1v1 and 2v2
"Casuals" (I hate the word for the negative connotations behind it) could slug it out on vire or in custom games, while 1v1 and 2v2 automatch were reserved, at least in the higher echelons, for hardcore players.
Premium doctrines and bulletins defecate on this in a very slimy way 
Bulletins barely affect anything, and i dont see how premium doctrines are negatively affecting the competetive aspect of the game as long as they are properly balanced.
1v1 and 2v2 automatch werent really different. If you had a high ELO, you had better opponents, that means "hardcore" players. Same goes for COH2. As soon as i got in the top 100, or rather top 75, i got "hardcore" players matched with me aswell.
1v1 or 2v2 were never reserved for super hardcore players, they were and are for everyone. The opponents you get is caused by your ELO. You get a high ELO, you get matched with better players. Simple as that.