Again a "hard-core republic" could be one that goes hard on direct democracy. What you're advocating for is a federal bureaucracy with some democracy peppered in. Republic is just an "other" category for any Gov thats is not a Monarchy or Empire. China is a "republic."
There is direct democracy on elected officials and a direct democracy on the rule of law.
In the US there is no legal direct democracy on rule of law as it was written. If 70% vote to repeal the 4th Bill of Right for example, they cant do that. If 70% of our elected officials vote to do that in Washington, they cant do that. Well,
they can but than they are violating the rules of the Republic and can and should be impeached and when the line is crossed to far that justifies the 2nd Amendment to be used to its full fruition to restore rule of law.
Rule of law here does not advocate Federal bureaucracy. Why? Because thats is the law. Its completely against that. Thats why I love the documents of our Republic, its hard to beat.
Rule of law and the concept of Republic does not = tyranny or China when it is written to protect the opposite. Does not = king or dictator either.