[Teeird]

Because it's beta, was it hard playing Diablo II normal?

Okay, I don't know where people get this fucking misconception from. But the intention of betas is both to iron out bugs, and to give people a demonstration of the final product. It is perfectly reasonable to have fears that the final product will be just like the beta.
And yes Diablo 2 WAS harder on normal, because it didn't hold my fucking hand like I was a toddler.
Diablo 3 IS pretty linear so far, and, until I see evidence that proves otherwise I won't be shocked if that is how the final game is too. Especially since they removed things like pvp.

And skill trees...