I've also been around for a few years, and appreciate your perspective.  Although I am a hobbyist, my experiences have also enriched my life.  Back when I first joined TER, I was a man jaded by too many years hanging out at strip clubs, and burned several times by failed civvie relationships that had me questioning a lot of things.  My main objective was ending a four year drought that was causing me to lose my sanity.  It took all of three weeks here to get past that...

Since then, over the years, I have made many friends, enjoyed the company of more wonderful ladies than I ever could have hoped for, traveled to places and met many people I never would have otherwise had it not been for this Game, and gained a perspective on life that's difficult to describe.  Although society disapproves of our sub-culture, indeed tries to throw us in jail for it, for those of us with our heads on straight, it's a net positive.  I've also found hobbying to be empowering...I control my my sexual destiny, which is central to me.  The fact that I have to throw $'s at it means little...
civvie life costs far more, and the BS and drama you have deal with is exponentially greater.  

I could rant about the deterioration of the boards over the years, and the lack of effective moderation and the rise of abusive and destructive alias nonsense, but that's like swimming against the tide...you will be pulled under if you don't swim with the tide.    

Just my three pennies late on a Sunday night, enjoying a most excellent red Bordeaux, vintage 2009...      

Sex is the most primal thing there is, so, on both sides of the transaction all kinds of weird hangups come out to play.  On the one hand, we've got ROBs and catty psychos.  On the other we have stalkers, mysogynists, theives and the "I've fallen for a provider and I can't get up" crowd.  Sorry to sound cynical, but it ain't gonna change.
As for the tone of the boards, none of the above explains it completely, because all the above was true a few years ago as well.  I don't like all the angry idiots either.  I just try to ignore them, as there are lots of good people around, too.

I was thinking a posting a similar thread but....

If I did posted it, it likely would not have been as well received. I fully agree. There is far to much animosity on the boards.

Now to keep the whiners at bay here is a photo from Met-Art.com. It is of Alura A.