every time i read such stories about the good old times, there is nothing i’d wish more than just being about 5 years or so older in 1988. 
today’s warez scene is total crap compared to C64/amiga scene, as you mentioned the groups had at least some time to code a nice intro, and test their cracks properly.
what about those rumours, some crackers were able to break into the software companies networks and steal their (not yet released) software??