To tell you the truth, I don't notice much difference actually. IMHO things have always been like they are now, more or less.
But what you're saying is of course undisputedly true: to get the quality of a forum up, it's up to the members. Also, I've noticed new users getting flamed, but that happens everywhere. That doesn't mean it's a good thing, and I don't support it, but it's nearly impossible to eliminate.