Scripture describes Hell as a place of fire and torment. I challenge you to find any passage either in Scripture or a theologian that supports your idea of the uncomfortable-but-not-horrible places in Hell. I have never come across anything resembling that in anything I have read on the Faith. Every saint I have ever read also describes Hell as a place of, in your words, "horrific punishments".
I'm curious about this. Last Tradhican rightly replied that Limbo is a paradise in Hell. So one does wonder if a naturally virtuous pagan who didn't have supernatural faith but had few mortal sins could perhaps get something that is not quite that but maybe somewhat close to it, perhaps suffering the pain of loss alone, as is shown by Dante's 1st circle, or perhaps some mild torment.
From what I'm aware, the *images* of Hell in Scripture and Tradition are primarily intended to make people fearful to end up there (though that's not to say they aren't accurate, understand.) And since Scripture is written to Catholics, could we *speculate* that what's being described there is the kind of torment that Catholics who don't cooperate with the many graces they are given are going to end up with? And that perhaps, say, some Muslim in the sand dunes of Saudi Arabia who lives a naturally good life might end up with an eternity that's.... something closer to just living in Saudi Arabia?
I find the speculation interesting at any rate and I'm curious if anything would rule it out.