It's weird, i know lots of players enjoy scoreboards, competition, hardcore difficulties... and i don't care so much about it !
In games, i always pick "adventure" or "sandbox" or whatever is similar, instead of "permadeath" or "elite" etc.
Yea, I'm the opposite, never played 'sandbox' mode in my life! But I don't mind trying to see if I can cater to your kind of player without breaking the game :)