No mod is a noob mod, they all take a relative amount of skill, it's just that some mods suck, if you don't like them, don't play them, It's simple, and cstrike is teh most popular mod to date, for any game, ever... so to say it murdered HL is rather an overstatement, and very far from fact.
HL wouldn't be the game it was if counter striek hadn't been created, nor would cstrike be teh game it is, if HL had not been so community friendly.
VALVe have actively encouraged mod's, and to talk sh*t about them and teh teams that spend years of their lives puttign togetehr a mod, taht people can play for free, is liek saying teh soldiers who die for their country are wastign tehr time, and should be punished for doing their job.