Yeah, you kind of sum up the "old" attitude in Hungary. By that, I mean the turn-up-your-nose I don't have to serve you and I still get paid, attitude, which is endemic of these "old" institutions.
In your other post, I commented about the Gellert being among my old Budapest haunts. But thinking back, I was always more exhausted coming out, then going in. No wonder when last I lived there, i never went close to the place.
There's plenty of fun things to see and do in Budapest. Try the Nagy csarnok (Big Market) on the other side of Szabadsag Bridge from the Gellert if you haven't already. Authentic, yet old world. Locals of the city go here to shop. Lower level for food. Upper level for wares.
Just hold on to your handbags. Like any old and crowded post communist city, it's full of pickpockets and scammers.
Sadly I'm back in Finland already, but I loved Budapest for the most part. It's a very beautiful city and felt very safe actually. I'm always very vary if people try to get close to me, so no pickpocketer will ever get anything out of me!