Yes to both. For want of a better way to put it, the house calmed down a lot. I think that every year has a kid or two (ringleaders with sadistic streaks and/or the occasional psycho) who when they leave, the whole place gives a massive sigh of relief. There were a few deps like that when I was a UF and I got the impression that there were a few more who left the year before I went up.
Not to say the place was a utopia, but it definitely got nicer to be in, all things considered.