As Salaam Alaikum wa Rahmatullah, I don't see the Hanbali school being harder to follow than any other. It seems you are very interested in the Hanbali maddhab. I suggest the following books may help you understand the maddhab: Al Madkhal al Mufassal ila Madhhab al Imaam Ahmed ibn Hanbal by Shaikh Bakr Abu Zayd. Al Madkhal ilaa Madhhab al Imaam Ahmed ibn Hanbal by Shaikh Ibn Badraan. Both are only in Arabic, so if you don't know Arabic then I would suggest you get ahold of some of the REAL Hanbali scholars or students of knowledge and learn from them. One of the greatest Hanbali scholars alive today is Shaikh Abdullah bin Aqeel (May Allah protect him).