I don't see how CS:S was "dumbed down".
If I was playing competitively, I'd rather play 1.6 because it seems more pure and doesn't have the lame physics crap that you get hung up on: garbage laying around and such. But since I just play hohos, I play CS:S because it's prettier.
I really wish I could play 1.3.
What's really sad is that CS:S divided the community.