I dont think 1 route is better. The hard route has a few plus points. You save a character and get some backround story. I think that decides for me to go the hard route, which is not more difficult btw, maybe slightly. For the char development of Claire, the better choice is the easy route. You meet certain characters earlier in the story and it makes more sense, you start in Ratpike and experience more. If you accept the blue ribbon girl getting killed, you go easy route. Maybe save your game before the decision, go south, finish that, reload and go north.