Wow, nice thread and good post. It really took me back, to those good old nostalgic moments of my childhood. Haha, everything you have referred to in your post was pretty much the same with me, only I had all of that during the eighties. Actually, early nineties were fairly innocent as well -- I was born in '82.
It's true, things just aren't the same as they used to be. I sometimes find myself lost in thought just wondering what it'd be like to just, I don't know, turn back time and relive those moments for one more second hehe. Those were some rather good times. Actually, in fact, I'm happy to say I was fortunate to have had a wonderful childhood, which can't be said for many out there.
I believe the beginning of the new millenium, or close to it anyway, was where things have begun to go dreadfully wrong. I don't know man, just some of the shit you see on TV is downright crazy. I'd NEVER imagine seeing all the sex, drugs, violence etc back in my youth (i mean shit, a Christina Aguilera video back in the day would be considered x-rated most-likely, and now youngsters are watching this on tv regularly; influenced by all this thinking it's cool and all). But then again, I can't say I remember spending much time with the television hehe, so who knows what was really going on. All I do remember, based on my personal experience, is that things definitely seemed more, I don't know - normal? At least when I was growing up.
Eh, this topic really got me thinking,

so I apologize for the lengthy post. But I do share the original posters sentiments.