The distinction I'm drawing is that Linus Torvalds' insults are so obvious and over the top that they are a greater risk to his reputation than to the feelings

The distinction I'm drawing is that Linus Torvalds' insults are so obvious and over the top that they are a greater risk to his reputation than to the feelings of the insulted. Whereas with genuine meanness one says things that a. one can claim weren't meant to hurt and b. make the victim worry that there is some truth to them.