to quote a 6th Dan in Judo who's been around for ages:
In my opinion, no one who has ever seen hane-goshi being performed correctly could possibly struggle to recognizing it or confusing it with uchi-mata, as the throw is entirely different. Even in an uchi-mata performed as a hip throw, the action is quite different as the opponent is not really loaded on the hip in uchi-mata. Moreover, hane-goshi requires a hip rotation while the opponent is loaded on or being loaded on the hip, which is far more demanding in terms of keeping your balance, than uchi-mata is. At the most it may be closer to uchi-guruma (which in itself is a very rare throw, and not part of the official Kodokan syllabus), although uchi-guruma requires rotation into the opposite direction. Hane-goshi is often (though not always) entered already when still facing the opponent, as the momentum is greater and thus facilitates loading the opponent on your hip and continuing the hip rotation. Hane-goshi is a beautiful throw, but a difficult throw.I do not think I am splitting hairs at all. Now, if a person has never seen a proper hane-goshi, that is something different.
Suffice to say ... I have not seen a successful hane-goshi being performed in competition for many years now, but I have seen numerous successful uchi-mata. I could go a step further and say, that if I remember well, I have never ever seen a successful hane-goshi being pulled off in competition by any female. Who knows of any female hane-goshi specialist in the entire history of judo. I don't. I am not saying it has not been done, I am just saying I have not seen it and I see a reasonable number of high-level competitions.
Give me one example of judoist who became famous through hane-goshi ? You'll have a hard time, as it is a difficult throw. I know that when I teach a clinic, and hane-goshi is part of it, that it ain't going to be pretty, because virtually every participant will struggle. I have met very few people who know how to properly do the throw. Let's see ... the late Takata Katsuyoshi, the late Kawakami Chu, Hirano Ryosuke, and Theo Guldemont. I am not sure if you even knew any of these names, but why don't you give us the names of those 'you' know that are famous for their hane-goshi.