I always appreciate your ability to interpret the original Greek for us. Maybe someday I'll have to learn some Greek myself (tough for an old guy like me ;-)). Thanks!
You are as always very welcome. You know, this distinction is hardly a fine one since it speaks to what is going on with souls in this age as opposed to what will become of them after the Final Judgment. As a practical matter, and assuming that at least in the West people think that the Patristic "Hades" equals a Hell of torment, saying in English that Christ descended to Hell creates a wrong theological impression. On the other hand, speaking of Hades, or "nether regions" or "the furthest down place" likely would only create confusion. Saying that Christ descended to "the dead", though not a literal translation, does in fact say what the Fathers meant without the baggage of the word "Hell" or the arcane nature of a literal translation of the Latin or the Greek.
You know, I have always wondered why the Nicene Creed does not speak of the descent into Hades. You wouldn't happen to know why, would you?