Jacob Marley
Adventurer
I think the game really went from a "ruling is up to the DM" type set-up with AD&D, to the rules lawyering that we now have with 3.x (and maybe 4E).
Regardless of if I was playing 1st Edition, 3rd Edition, or 4th Edition my groups have always been accepting of DM rulings. I guess I have been lucky to not have to play with a lot of rules lawyers.