I agree - some responses to newcomers (the "I'd like to see this game!" threads and other completely off-topic posts) are less gentle than before.
We definitely need to keep up the good spirits... we have a vested interest in making this a vibrant, friendly community.
These forums are living proof that CD Projekt has a viable business model, built upon honest users that want GOG (and the copyright holders of the games they sell) to succeed.
"Why you stuck-up, half-witted, Steam-using NERFHERDER!"
"Hey! Who are you calling Steam-using?"

Very few people on the Steam forums think that. I know, seeing that I've been using those forums longer than I have GOG. But it is also a fairly well known fact on the Steam forums that they are a really bad place when it comes to "fan boy-ism", so much in fact, that the word "fanboy/fan boy" is censored over there.
So no, I don't think the point is all that valid. We should not refrain from discussing our honest opinions of something as that is just as bad. Would you rather have a discussion with people who refuse to say what they really feel -- because they are afraid of how others will react? I know I wouldn't. As you'd never really know what anyone in such a community is really like. Thus, you wouldn't be able place any trust in anything they had to say.
The real problem here, is the people who take everything as a personal attack, even when it's blatantly not a personal attack. Describing the poor state of a forum, which you've used for many years, is not a personal attack. Calling an individual user on said forum an idiot -- or worse -- would be a personal attack.
So yes, I agree, insulting individual users, is not appropriate. But then, avoiding voicing your real opinion on subjects (and not any specific user) out of fear of offending someone, is also NOT appropriate.

Lets keep in mind that people can maintain their helpful disposition for only so long after being asked the same question over and over and over again.
Every time a new poster asks when will this or that game become available it's almost like a race to find out who points him to the wishlist and how funny, rude or actually helpful that reply is depends on the poster and on how many times they've had to answer the question and how thin is their patience. There comes a point where the reply will seem rude because the clutter can get annoying.
But all in all, we still have a classy communitty. The religion thread, like someone pointed out is a great example. The only argument that arose there (at least in the beginning, i stopped checking it while back) was one of semantics and people answered and shared ideas openly without grabbing each other's throats. That doesn't happen everywhere and we should be glad for what we still have.

Better to be hated for who you are than loved for who you appear to be. So far I don't think I've ever seen an "STFU N00B" used here in any manner other than a joke

STFU N00B
I mean it this time!

This is a very important point.

Well then i would much prefer that a user just ignores the question and moves onto a thread that takes their interest rather than leave a prickly reply to a question/topic that has been repeated before.
Less fussing and fighting and more group GOG hugs and maybe occasional fondle for the more frisky.

YES. This is a goal we should all strive against.
A guiding principle that I find useful is Wheaton's Law.

This! Just down-rate the OP and move on.

I think we are very friendly, especially to all the one-post-newbies who don't have the courtesy to read the rules or use common sense when it comes to requests.

Im a nice guy :|

All I do is link to the Wishlist when someone's begging for a game.

Simple solution there: create a "GAMES YOU WANT" board. If you try to post anything you will be fowarded to the FAQ :D.
Dunno, I like this community. I don't see that much rudeness going on when compared to others. Like everyone says though, the bigger a place gets, the more inhospitable it becomes.

Honestly, I think this community is so mature because the majority of members are all over the legal age to drink. Yes, there are people younger, but they are also in a mature community, and their behavior reflects the rest of the community.
Steam is the worst ever. The only time I ever fit in with them is when I was drunk off my ass and posting there, I sounded like a complete dick, or someone obviously drunk. And trying to get help there? You'd have better luck trying to squeeze blood from a rock.