Hi Sean,
1. I am not sure if the "softer" Bilstein's are stiffer than stock. The "firmer" Bilstein's (0929/1104) are firmer than stock.
2. For me it is hard to compare these shocks. I might put them in different shocks catagories. Bilsteins are well built nice performing shocks. The HAL's are more "race" shocks. Both are good. The shocks you want might depend on what you want to do with your car.
Mike