I don't think it's so much on the rise as it is that it's all that's really going on over there any more. What I mean is, Dean, you have provided through this website a place where people can just talk about having fun with the game, something exclusive for the SWM community, and most of the users here are exclusively from the WotC website.
When you take away all the casual, friendly talk, the ranting is all that's left.
I also agree with Nickname's point about the "elite-speak" where some people (whether they intend it or not) come across as trying to push their (IMO minority) opinions off on the entire community. They have just enough supporters to at least get WotC's attention, but they don't speak for the majority of players. I would also add that I doubt very many of those who oppose the proposals being put forth for rigorous DCI changes actually play by those rules, either, but it doesn't stop them from debating it because they have nothing else to talk about. Threads that are all or mostly positive tend to die out very quickly, but places where people can gripe, OH MAN, let the good times ROLL!!!
A kid at my local store, who's about 15, had some great insight into some of the posts. He doesn't know anything about any of the online posters as I don't talk much about it with the local crowd but after creating an account a few weeks ago, just after GenCon, he asked me what the deal was, why some people are pushing hard-core antics so heavily.
"Do those guys even know what casual play is?" he asked.
Very intuitive. Not necessarily about any specific person, but just the situation in general. I've also heard some of you referred to as "The Think-Tank." Trust me it wasn't meant as a compliment.
Personally, I think the hard-core edge could stand to be toned down a bit, but recently I've decided I don't care enough about the situation one way or the other to get involved any more. I have had some personal life experiences that have almost completely altered my priority levels, which is a big part of why you don't see very many posts from me these days.