SigmaPatch note summary: made monsters weaker. Made players more powerful.
After beating the more difficult version of the game that existed on release, I don't really see the point of playing again.
To be fair, it was hardest around 1-2 weeks after assuming you didn't know the barb/mage "godmode" glitch but before 1.0.3 (aside from ghom for some chars, holy fuck). They nerfed some stupid godly skills like SS and monk party invul that were nerfed a day or so after release.