Lets not go victim-blaming, when the problem is the hustler and not his target. How that person feels or responds is not the issue - how they were approached and what caused it, is.
I'm not there as often as some of you - usually a week or two a year, so I'm not the "expert" many here seem to be. But in my opinion, it hasn't changed much. I think a lot of it comes down to the time of year you visit. In the offseason, especially towards the end, people who need money can get downright desperate. We typically come in April and/or September, and as far as I've noticed, the hassle seems worse in September, every year. Fewer people around makes it easier to become a target, and if you, for example, walk the beach from Travellers to the AI's, you'll be approached repeatedly, and many times it's not a quick "no thank you", but being followed/walked with, being asked all kinds of personal questions, being asked directly for money, and then the attitude when you give them nothing. I know what a bumb***** is, having been called it many times while walking the beach because I don't want more ganja / souvenirs / to buy them a drink / give them cash / that if I don't give I'm not showing "respect". LOL at that.
I keep telling myself to not get involved in these threads, because it's extremely frustrating when others come in here and say it doesn't happen, or it's not that bad, or blame the person it happened to, that they must have done something to cause it, or that they must be "snowflakes" who can't take a "little fun".
I still come back. And I still walk the beach. But my wife stays at the hotel, because it's just not worth the hassle to her. And then it's only one person walking the beach, spending money at bars and on food, and not two. And, I'd have a much better time if I didn't have to play "the game" the entire way, and have the same conversations over and over. How much money doesn't walk the beach, but instead stays at the hotel or at their AI? I would venture a guess and say it's a lot.