Ah, the you're not good at this game argument.Dark Souls is a trial-and-error game only if you don't know how exercise caution. It's not punishing because it's punishing, it's punishing because you are eventually supposed to learn.
You can get pretty far without dying if you try to play it not thinking you are invincible and padding in the gameplay will cushion your mistakes.
I can do hard if its rewarding and fast paced like dmc, ng, shinobi etc. If im clunking around and dodgerolling... nah.