I do miss the old days as well. Mara seemed so different awhile back. It is too different now, in a way I don't like. There are far too many newbs out there who flood the boards with spam. I don't mind a newbie who is kind and thoughtful, not begging and such, but you rarely find one of those nowadays.
I am, also, sick of the book threads [and other threads] being flooded with Twilight. Ehh, I can't stand it.