Talk to me about offline p8

Like many, I've played D2 on and off for many many years. I've always played online because I like both access to trade and access to help if I get stuck on something like ancients.

I see a lot of people praising solo offline mode with players 8 turned on and I always have to wonder: how?

Does everyone start with an obligatory hammerdin? How else do you get through hell? Like say I wanted to level a sorc in offline mode: How do you deal with immunes? In online mode I can just make or join a game and get help. But offline???

Even with splitting points into different elements you're still going to struggle with things like trav council and ancients without levels and gear. I've never once had a merc capable of killing ancients by themselves, especially with the added difficulty of p8. I'm sure it's very possible with high end gear but what about starting out?

I realize p8 is something you ramp up to, but in the meantime you still deal with the same shitty drop rates I deal with online only now you have no help if you need it.

Just looking for some insight from those who play offline, the how's and the why's. Guess I'm afraid of putting in the time to slog through to hell only to get stuck on immunes or lack of gear.