Does this project still go ahead if it doesn't reach hardcap?
Of course it should, the basic thing is the softcap which have been reached, it means whatever they need for the development of the project has beh attained, hardcap is giving it more power to achieve much more... You get it?
Oh yes, I get that! It's just I've seen some really promising projects not go ahead before when they haven't hit hard cap!
That is weird. Usually, like Nathan01 said, only the softcap matters. The amount of the softcap is calculated that as soon as the project reaches it, the ICO is considered successful and they have enough funds to develop their product. A hardcap is often just in place to limit the funding process.