Hmm, I've watched him for a while too, although less so recently, but I'm not sure I've noticed exactly that change in his style. If he's changed, I suspect it wasn't his education that did it, but his growing popularity. He's got a popular YouTube channel to manage, so business interests may conflict with philosophical ones.

I also wouldn't idolize Hitchens since his approach had its downside too. To say that O'Connor doesn't debate in good in faith may be too strong, unless you mean what I said, which is that he sometimes understates the problems with religion to avoid scaring off potential guests on his podcast.

Still, what's best about O'Connor's approach is that he knows his stuff so theists aren't likely able to pull the wool over his eyes with technicalities. And sometimes he nails the relevant criticism, in my view.