I'm honestly glad Linus learned to tone down this kind of talk or at least reserve it for situations in which it is more merited.
Because while in the majority of instances he was correct, he left a lot of folks feeling like The Dude from The Big Lebowski.
You're not wrong, Walter. You're just an asshole.
For a long time it was a particularly hostile environment to people trying to learn the ropes of open source contribution.
However, on the flip side, I am also glad he hasn't turned it off completely, because while it is important to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment, sometimes creating that welcoming environment involves sternly telling someone off about their behavior, when that behavior is unwelcoming or generally unhelpful.
Anyway, applause for Linus for showing emotional and social growth.