Who exactly was this game aimed at?

To be honest, beyond that and a couple of times when I was called an idiot in ME3 MP, yeah there are mostly pleasant people online. And usually the annoying ones get kicked pretty fast, luckily. I do wish more online games outside MMOs had an actual mute function, though. Too many hot mics and kids trash talking.

And you've been there every step of the way.

Complaining about complainers.

Yeah, it's pretty toxic over there.

The writing and characters are so infantile anyone over the age of 13 would not find them acceptable but the level of language and sex in the game make it inappropriate for kids.

The tone and content of this game are like oil and water.

Uhhh... Mass Effect fans and newcomers to the series?

I find it hard to believe you actually think this unless you never played an online game ever. If you have GTA 5 just get on online in that game and most of the people talking are little kids who think calling everyone the n-word or f@ggot makes them edgy and cool. Even if a game is rated 18+ most parents are going to buy that kid that game regardless of what the devs tell us about the game. They will just complain about it later even tho the parents where the idiots who brought the game in the first place. Not only that but a darker theme does not mean it is more mature. The Twilight book/movies have a dark theme but I seriously doubt anyone here would say it's has a better than MEA, Uncharted or any of the Marvel movies for example. Adults to this very day still play Super Mario and Pokemon. I bet you the people who are hyped for the Crash Remake aren't 10-16 years olds who never even heard of a Crash game but adults who grew up with the series and want to play it again with better graphics. 

Yeah same here as I've always been fascinated by science myself so I definitely get them. Admittedly I'm 39 but I don't think you have to necessarily have to be young to understand the crew and appreciate what they're discovering about the universe and each other. The characters are inexperienced and this is just their way of showing it but they'er eager to face up to the challenge which is commendable. If the story is continued in an MEA2 which I doubt it will be  atm then hopefully it'll show how they've matured in the next game.