That's true actually, I know an echte Hamburgerin (3 generations both sides) and she's nice, as are her family. The "locals" I just meant the German inhabitants of the city, many of whom of course did not grow up there or are from there or have strong roots in the city.

Like I said, it's a pity, but for a city that claims to be Germany's "gateway to the world", its people are awfully parochial, small-minded, and terribly lacking in curiosity.