That's not true at all. I just finished going through twenty or thirty catalogs from 1986 till now and comparing the tone, style and embarassers count. This started gaining momentum in the late 90's, and the winter catalog is by far the furthest along.
'furthest along'? How so? For preaching on high I'm not sure anything can touch The Whole Art of Natural Protection (can anyone beat Doug Robinson?) If you are talking 'bro/brah' tone & style - forums trump the catalog everytime. And as I said, compared to 'Climbing' Shlock & Vice or the other magazines - Patagucci is tame (or at least free).
Perhaps you are just disenchanted with the 'culture'?