Partially that was the case. I feel offended by that episode is how they attacked the same people who complained about the character development.
Oh you didn't like that Fluttershy has to relearn the same lesson over and over, well to bad.
Pinkie Pie reduced from the serious character that everyone likes, to the character that everyone is laughing at.
Remember how people critisized Rarity for being a horrible person, well boo her.
The salt about Twilight being an Alicorn Princess is so minor right now, that this episode aged by the few years the moment it was released from the shelves.