What would it take for a publication to have that feel?

Did you read any of those publications? There was (for me, at least) a latent excitement underneath the surface, of the absolute coolness of the possibilities that seemed to be at our fingertips. Every issue was filled with articles that had somebody showing you how to do something you never even dreamed of.

Yeah, I read DDJ back in the day. And yes, I felt that sense of excitement. What I was wondering is, how did they do it? I think you're onto something with the two-fold "Here's something new to do, and here's how you can do it."