I will point out that your post shows that this seems to be a constant bone of contention around here, as Bill was complaining about it way back in 2009. If this place was ever "happy-go-lucky," as you put it, it must have been over 5 years ago. Or, more realistically, it's a cyclical thing, and some people are more sensitive to it than others.
As probably one of the top 10 oldest "still visits the forum every day" members, let me say, anyone who thinks these forums were *ever* happy-go-lucky are simply living in a dream world.
This place has NEVER been the happy world of Nintendo Fanboys who worship everything Nintendo does. Ever.
I have always thought of these forums more like:
Hey, they said "Happy-Go-Lucky"! Haw-haw.
Look, no forum is perfect. Go on NeoGAF and mention GoNintendo. Go on CheapAssGamer and mention NeoGAF. Go anywhere and mention GameFAQs. You'll get all kinds of opinions.
I've said this before and I'll say it again - you'll get out of these forums what you put into them.
Funny thing is, there's a forum made up of a handful of people who left this one because it was too negative. Yet, most of their current/active posts are about how all the other gaming sites, the gaming press and other gaming forums suck. I'm happy that they created a place for themselves where they can be happy with one another by being negative about everyone else - but I'm more interested in a forum where we have diverse opinions that I don't always agree with. If I wanted to sit around and hear stuff I agree with all the time, I'd just talk into a tape recorder and play that back. I want people to tell me I'm crazy for buying 150+ Skylanders. And I want to tell people they're crazy for not even giving the game a chance.