I feel like, if the whole site was dedicated to helping and informing, it could potentially create liability for the site owners. So I can understand having lots of socially-oriented forums, to dilute from the advice function of BYC and keep it light hearted and casual.
I've been here just over a year and I have read most of this 50-page thread. (It's raining out and I'm bored. :lau ) I will say this: if the forum has changed why is that a bad thing? If it never changes it gets stagnant and lifeless. As with everything in life, change has its good and bad...