It's been a long, painful slog grinding through those lives over the years. I completed it all solo (life and other considerations means I usually solo), no hirelings or otto's boxes. I also managed to pick up an Aasimar life and and Elf life along the way.
Hardest life? Alchemist, as I did this just after it came out and just didn't understand the class really.
Easiest life? Favoured Soul, by a country mile though recent changes may have changed that.
Most Tedious life? Fighter, oh my god it took forever. I almost gave up at this point
Least Tedious life? Paladin, cruise mode engaged, although it took a while to do so hence not easiest. With FvS I could run almost everything into a room and blow it to shreds in 5 mins.
I got Elf life by accidentally choosing a HoB instead of HoW >.<
As I got further through the lives I could do Elite for longer until by my last life, melee Bard, I did pretty much all on Elite, only dropping to Hard when the designers started adding bags of hitpoints with legs instead of monsters.