"Jason
There is no 'serious' issue with hards. I run hards at many places. Common strats for me (at this time of the year) look something like this.
Aussie - SHHHH
Malaysia - SHHHH
China - SHHHH
Bahrain - SSSSSS
Spain - SHHHHH
Monaco - SSSSSS
Turkey - SHHHH
Silverstone - SSSSSS
Germany - SSSSSS
Hungary - SSSSSS
Europe - SSSSSSS
Belgium - SHHHH (mind you, only because I was in traffic, usually run SSSSSS or SSSSSSS)
Monza - SSSSSS
Singapore - SSSSSS
Japan - SHHHH
Brazil - SHHHH (or maybe SHHHS)
Abu D - SHHHH (or maybe SHHHS)
I guess the best argument is tracks where hards should work (eg Bahrain) they are just pure slow even when the track is hot and places like Spain, hards are quicker than softs even in negative temperatures.
Is this advice still valid?