Quotes from the D3 Dev AMA

[MongoJerry]

Considering the first HC Inferno Belial kill was by a barbarian this is wrong right from the start. I also see quotes in the chat that seem to say that there are as many melee as ranged on the top end of the HC progression as well and since that currently is Act II and one or two people in Act III that would tell me that there are ranged and melee progressing in Act II Inferno on Hardcore.

So again, how are hardcore people playing in Act 2 then?

Correct. From the comments of some of the top hardcore players, it's actually the melee who are having the easier go of it in Act 2, after they gear up in Act 1.