HS key missing on Red after patch/reset
 

I don't recall which patch or reset it was but would have been fairly recent. I only noticed it when I died and my inventory was empty upon loading at bind point (usually there is a copy of the key there). I have obtained a few other keys since then and both are with me when I respawn as intended, but the HS key remains missing

There is a point in the timeline where the HS key actually doesn't come with you when you die. Either the new patch bugged red, or they moved red into that era?

Could be... Are you saying that they removed the need for the key entirely, or that it simply stays on your body (would make CRs significantly more difficult). I honestly haven't tried zoning into HS in awhile so haven't tested this out yet.

There is a limited time where the key stayed on your body, rather than come with you when you die. That is why during this period people rarely go in to HS lol. You basically need to have multiple keys banked if you want to do corpse runs.