Also, it is quite likely that Torvalds would not word it like this in person. He uses it on the mailing list specifically because the written form do not allow

Also, it is quite likely that Torvalds would not word it like this in person. He uses it on the mailing list specifically because the written form do not allow body language and other such clues. It is this that gave us things like smilies and Poe's Law.