DG, simple solution for post patch gameplay...stick to Official Dedicated servers. Otherwise, we wait for servers to get updated. It's still better than having to wait days/weeks for public servers to be updated with manual patches, as in the old days. Or the alternative, MW2, with no public dedicated servers at all.
It also doesn't help server admins when Jason (HLDS mailing lists) seems to be on vacation, and nobody is announcing patches to the mailing lists. We usually get a pre-announcement, and then the announcement of the patch being available.