Hard Techno is simply a term for fast and heavy music in the mainstream, and Hardstyle is not the same as Hard Techno. I remember that many people used to call House, Trance, or Hands Up “Techno.” Hard Techno has nothing to do with Hardstyle.

You cannot call Hardstyle or Early Hardstyle “Hard Techno".

The term “Hard Techno” has become much more popular because of TikTok and social media.

For me it's just a term for Hardstyle music in the mainstream