I think part of it results from a level of rudeness that was not previously present on the Hog. A newbie asks a basic question and gets responses like, "read your manual." My last three cameras didn't come with a physical manual. Other responses are "do a google search" or "do a search on the Hog". When I first started here (a long time ago), I asked some very basic questions which were quickly and politely answered. I notice that politeness is lacking in some members.

That is a great question! One comment though on your statement below -

"I recently took a class on vacuum technology. One of the topics was leak detection using helium and the point was made that "everything leaks."

I spent 19 years working at GE Nuclear Energy in the Reactor Instrumentation Division, specifically for the NNPP (Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program) and we regularly used Helium Leak Detectors - mostly Varian brand. There is a term "hermetically sealed" that describes any type of sealing that makes a given object airtight (preventing the passage of air, oxygen, or other gases). This is critical for incore reactor instrumentation, so, despite your instructors statement - not everything leaks.