I think with the GCC being more restricted, the "cocktail party" feeling doesn't exist anymore.
The old GCC postings were like the headlines of a newspaper or tabloid - now with the PDA it's like posting a required legal notice in the Polish newspaper with a circulation of 50. It's there, but unless one KNOWS it's there, who is going to look?
I don't know the solution - maybe allowing a note in GCC saying "I've got some sad/negative/frustrating things I want to talk about - please read my PDA on page X" ?? And then nothing could be added to it in GCC?