I am a piano player and have played ragtime for decades, along with hot jazz, blues and a crude Harlem boogie. Yes, it is difficult, like any other challenging art form. In the last few years, for example, I have been dabbling in both clawhammer and ragtime banjo, and find each equally challenging. There is a syncopation characteristic to ragrime that some people struggle with or smooth out excessively. Just about any musical style is easy to imitate and hard to master. I am limited by inability to read music. A great many classic rags are quite complex for learning by ear, so my selection is limited by this. Nonetheless, this music is fun and appeals to nearly everyone I meet. Add some Jelly Roll Morton to your collection, and good luck!