question about hardship programs

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Would I have been better off to not agree to the hardship program?

I'd say that entirely would be your personal choice. But being into the hardship program would show that you're working on good faith to repay the loan. It'd also not affect your credit report as adversely as a charged-off account or judgement will.

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If I am in hardship programs with cc companies, and am unable to make the payments, does that make it harder to reach settlement down the road?

IMO it'd only affect the tenure of the repayment plan. But you should keep the lender informed about your changing financial condition.