“the stringencies of modern day Chassidus were not the norm throughout the vast majority of our history.”
I have to concede the first 130 years.
Eruvin 18B
Rabbi Meir says, Adam HaRishon was a Chasid Gadol … for 130 years sat in fasts, separated from.. etc.
But then we have Yaakov Beraishis 29:7 rebuking the shepherds for not working enough.