I agree entirely with your post, though it's really been an ongoing problem, with the primary cause of it's continuation and growth being players with the attitudes of the other respondents in the thread. They have no sense of honor in-game, and probably in RL also, their primary excuse or justification being, if there aren't specific rules against these things, it's ok to do them. If you can't exhibit honor in a freaking game, you're damned sure NOT going to exhibit honor in life.
I agree with the op. There has been a change, and I have said it before. As to the lead by example, that is how we got to where we are. Squads like the V dudes and other bish squads that only touch the fringes of the game and cut corners by using numbers to win the war instead of skill and good game play.
This is precisely why they DON'T exhibit honor...it's a game and it doesn't count towards their RL points totals. It's meaningless so they behave meaninglessly.
In game, most want to win with as little risk and exposure as possible. Then claim pwnage. THAT is who they really are...
Some guys as expressed before want frequent missions and squad action that creates a more colloquial environment; both a camaraderie as well as a culture of behavior and excellence, group play etc. At the same time some squads like the V dudes and others are insulted and said to be using numbers to win the war instead of skill and good game play. How does that come together. You want squad operation and missions, but insult squads and players that do missions.
The crying about the channel 200 is something of a mystery to me. I have never used it and probably never will on the basis of what I have read in the forum. If you do not like what is going on in there, select another channel. There are supposed to be channels 200-299 to choose for chatting with friends from other countries and also an option to send private messages.
In my opinion the experienced guys should review their behavior first if they want a better gaming culture and retain the trial period players. I have seen some unjustified insults towards newcomers. In the interest of good gaming culture it might be a good idea to use less vox after having one too many refreshment drinks (not a frequent issue).
"I made up my mind that I was going to play a real man to the best of my ability. I felt many of the western stars of the twenties and thirties were too (gorram) perfect. They never drank or smoked. They never wanted to go to bed with a beautiful girl. They never had a fight. A heavy might throw a chair at them, and they just looked surprised and didn`t fight in this spirit. They were too (gorram) sweet and pure to be dirty fighters. Well, I wanted to be a dirty fighter if that was the only way to fight back. If someone throws a chair at you, hell, you pick up a chair and belt him right back. I was trying to play a man who gets dirty, who sweats sometimes, who enjoys kissing a gal he likes, who gets angry, who fights clean whenever possible but will fight dirty if he has to. You could say I made the western hero a roughneck." - John Wayne
~~~~~
The "What Would John Wayne Do" Test:
Play a real man. Be a real man. Think of it as an easier litmus test than this silly thread. Would John Wayne whine on CH200 that he just got face-shot or vulched? Would he run to the forum in a fit of angst or frustration and start a thread to form a gang to make the other players behave nicer or follow the 'Marquee of Queen's Berries'* rules?
If he was still around and took a liking to this game for a few minutes now and again ... and ... if he bothered to waste time in it typing ... it'd probably take on more of a 'True Grit' feel:
Ned Pepper: What's your intention? Do you think one on four is a dogfall?
Rooster Cogburn: I mean to kill you in one minute, Ned. Or see you hanged in Fort Smith at Judge Parker's convenience. Which'll it be?
Ned Pepper: I call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man.
Rooster Cogburn: Fill your hands, you (S of a B)!
~~~~~~~
The easier method would be a bit of Tuco's wisdom from 'The Good, The Bad and the Ugly' ....
Tuco (Eli Wallach): When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.
Well, it works for me.
As for players who don't fill channel 200 with whines or jeers or chest-thumping ego-prancing being part of this game's 'problem' when it comes to 'honor' ... well, that's about as inventive a blame as I've seen so far.

"There's a lot of whiners in every crowd."
- R. Lee Ermey
*
Marquess of Queensberry rules