I agree that fora is ultra-cringely.

I think that before someone is allowed to criticise an off-topic or repetitive post, they should receive an automated message asking if they have written a Wiki entry on the subject.

Threads are generally NOT good places to learn things. They are chaotic and unclear. Asking newbies to post at the end of long threads is asking for the threads to become longer and more chaotic.

There is some merit in the idea of restricting newbie comments to the newbie area for some probationary period of time.