Actually, it's more before they changed him (like in "Super Mariokart") than the new ones. The ones in "Yoshi's Story" make me wonder if there's been Yoshi-Pokémon crossbreeding.
As for Mr. Binks, I don't think he's a bad or annoying character, he just got too much screen time and became grating on the viewer (but, then again, that's for another forum : ).
Besides, I'm not the one who drug Yoshi down. The person you're looking for lives in Japan. : )
Lee "Mega 2" Sherman
Sneaky Lying Cheating Giant Ninja Koopa