The Dink Network

The only difference in the Smilestein example is the second makes the player look like an errand boy, the first seems to give you a choice, even if it's not really there. It's like saying your girlfriend "I would like some coffee" versus "Make me coffee." The latter is more likely to piss her off but if she has no say on the matter, might as well use that instead the polite wording. Same here, if the Smilestein Farm was necessary instead of an optional subquest, they could use the latter wording. It may even be better, since otherwise you might think you don't HAVE to clear the farm to get ahead in the game.

The Mine example isn't really fair, because the second choice spoils the plot while the first doesn't make any comment on it. Between

"Trouble at the Mines: Gold miners missing! Witnesses report seeing massive bipedal shapes move in the shadows. Clues leading to the solving of this mystery will be rewarded."

and the other option, the difference is pretty superficial.

I do agree that hints should be vague and scattered, but if they're so not vague you instantly know what the quest is about you could just as well tell it how it is.

I don't really remember how CC2 was, but it didn't bother me, so it couldn't have been too bad. Baldur's Gate was pretty good. You could find out stuff about the mines from various sources, and create a picture of what was going on, but it didn't become completely obvious until you got there. And then you could feel good for being right and kicking the "yipping demons'" ass.