Extremes at either ends always bring out more negatives than positives. I don't support only 'tough love' approach but I also don't like the way most of us are raising kids nowadays. Letting them 'voice their opinions' is good but I think we are losing them to impatience and intolerance. I might be wrong but that's my general observation (from where I live).

As for my parenting approach, I'm not a perfect mom but I try to choose the middle ground - nurturing with love and being rigid (when needed). Afterall, it's us who need to teach them how to survive this world.