Okay, doing some research Hex's can be used at level 12 in NORMAL mode but not in Casual.

-Tutorial ~ After grabbing the gun you are only required to fire the spreadshot at the dummies (it must make contact with at least 1 dummy) to open the door.

-Casual mode lowers the loot pool, meaning your chances for higher loot are slim to none. The best you'd probably get is Uncommon and maybe the once in a lifetime rare. Still dunno which would be faster - having better loot or easier enemies.

-Normal Character or Hardcore character only affects the Private Stash. Hardcore Characters share a stash and Normal Characters share a stash, but if a Hardcore character dies then they can never access the Hardcore stash again. Normal Characters cannot touch the Hardcore stash and vice versa.

-Exp gain seems to be the same no matter which mode you play(Only tested on Casual and Normal), though Champion spawning is random in some spots it seems while specific champions are always in the same place. Careful EXP routing places the player around level 4 - level 5 right around the first boss.

Gonna be testing a lot of things and adding to this post in edits.

nice. I stopped trying to improve the time cause no one was interested but It'd be cool to see what you come up with!