I feel I need to reply to this.
I am a 5th Dan in Hapkido. I served 10 years in the military, 3 in Law Enforcement and on and off in security (Bouncing mostly).
My Hapkido training has kept me alive. On more than one occasion I have had to use my training in situations that were more than just fights.
Now the biggest problem with Hapkido is its diversity. Now when I say this I mean the many differing Hapkido schools out there, many of them who are barely doing Hapkido.
As far as katas go, Hapkido normally does not contain them. They are put in by instructors for whatever purpose or are part of the TKD curriculum in TKD schools that claim to teach HKD. We believe that sparring is better. It develops timing and helps to teach you the basics of fighting.
I know a lot of people say that you cant catch a punch, but we don't. We intercept at mid forearm. While students are learning the basics of small joint manipulation from grabs, they are also learning how to strike (punch, kick, elbow, knee), counter-strike and move. Learning joint manipulation is not easy and mastering it is even harder. Because of this, learning how to strike early on is integral. As your grab defenses become punch defenses it is even more important that you have already learnt how to strike etc..
As you develop you techniques even more you begin to develop them for ground work.
Now the simple fact is that not all Hapkido is equal. There is a lot of really bad Hapkido out there. Just like with all martial arts out there you are going to find good schools and bad schools. If you find that there are concerns about what you are studying then talk to your instructor and let them know about your concerns.
Also, if you have problems then don't just give up, check out other schools of the same art and see if things are more to your liking at different locations. You may find that other schools are doing things more realistically.
One of the biggest problems I find in any art is people who have never actually trained commenting on it. I don't care what reputation an art has, you can not get a true idea of the art or school unless you get involved in it in some shape or form. Be it training or extensive observation.
Now if you are training for 6 months and you don't like what you see, then chances are that its either not the art or school for you. But first check out other schools of the same art before you write it off.
Hapkido trained realistically and properly is one of the most effective arts one can train in. But you gotta find a good school. Thats the hardest part.
Another point I feel I need to comment on is the gun one. So many people bring up guns as good self defense. Really its not that good. If you use a gun you better be damn good and ready to justify it in a court of law.
For a gun to be so great for self defense then you better be good at using it. Expert shooters have a hard time hitting moving targets, every time a gun is discharged there is a danger of an innocent person getting hit. As well there are a LOT of places you can not have a gun. Even if you do, you better be able to draw it, aim and shoot before you get beat down or killed. And if you do get beat down then you have a good chance of that gun being taken and now it is in the hands of someone who may not be so responsible with it.
Lets not forget that if you have a gun and your attacker has a gun then who wins. The fastest and most accurate draw. There are a lot of factors that come into play when a gun is being considered for self defense.
Now around the home for home defense, an absolute yes. But in my personal and professional opinion, a knife is still the best weapon for self defense. At least where they can be carried. If your on a plane then a good writing pen works just as good as a shank. Anywhere you can not carry a typical weapon, then an improvised weapon is the next best thing. Many improvised weapons can be used the same as traditional weapons, with the right training. A pool stick is a great staff or sword, etc.....
Now the thing with MMA is this. How many MMA classes teach things like this? Serious question cause I dunno. Lets also look at the mindset of a traditional martial artist. Most (not all) of us are trained to not be thugs, bullies etc... We are given a set of moral guidelines. Arts that do not teach things like this I liken unto teaching someone how to use said gun and giving then no gun safety training.
In the end one must choose what they feel is the most right for them. But for traditional martial arts to survive they need to start thinking like they are in the 21st century and not the 15th or so. They must start training their students to utilize their training in todays world, with todays laws, todays villains and todays available improvised weapons.
I certainly don't advocate gun ownership as a matter of course. Further, I agree 100% about needing to train with the weapon if one intends to carry it and potentially use it, should such circumstances arise. Carrying in a concealed manner and being able to access, retain and effectively use the weapon are major matters, and take lots of forethought, planning and practice. But, so does a martial art.
I bring up the notion of carrying a weapon to the people that seem overly oriented toward only training in certain types of martial arts (or fighting practice) because they presumably make one most able to deal with street situations, and talk of such situations as if they are regularly imminent. My point is that if one perceives one's need for self defense as so urgent, then there are perhaps more effective ways to gain that upper hand or deal with the situation (perhaps even not being there in the first place! Changing one's circumstances can fix a lot of problems).
Otherwise, yes, to each their own. I simply feel that in regards to assessing arts and needs, some people's presumptions, motivations, logic and assessments/judgments are confused, if not flawed.
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