I often notice that people who have open reel decks and/or tube equipment are nicest

I was serious with a humorous tone. If they have the patience to spool up those tapes, and FF/RW to the spots they like, along with biasing the tubes and always keeping a watchful eye on them, not to mention a probable turntable with all those rituals needed to play, then they have a lot of patience and would be willing to help others.

I don't know about "nicer", but we're definitely warmer... 

I have both, and enjoy helping others, and hopping about learning about other people’s equipment, posting fun finds, but I only recommend equipment I have personal experience with, so I feel like an 8 Track tape, endless repeat. Here he goes again, you can see it coming ......

I also realize, I have more time than funds, many have the opposite, (time is wealth) thus used, upgrade, restore approaches inconceivable for many. 

That's simply not true.  The nicest people are the one's with meters on their amps.

Both of those relatively high maintenance 20th century technologies go for a premium price these days and require a special level of patience and dedication for sure.