I was recently talking to someone about being a kid and only having the back of the box and maybe a TV commercial to go on. Actually I think back then, which for me was NES and Sega Master System days, only the first party or really big games got TV commercials.
However let's not forget that in those days you probably ended up with some horrible games too. As a kid you wouldn't be anywhere near as critical, and most of the time it probably wasn't your money. But transport that situation to now, having very little info can be a recipe for disappointment and regret.
I think it's OK for some people to want a lot of information. It's mainly about timing because you could wait until after release and have loads of information to go on, but yeah people are excited and want to play ASAP too. It's a balancing act, for both the marketing people and the gamers.
I don't think it's a new generation issue, nor do I think back in the day was always better .