Well, that's a fascinating point, and you may be onto something there. But I don't know, Badass!Aquaman is usually actually received very well, in my experience. Well, and with surprise. "Wait, Aquaman can be badass! I HAD NO IDEA."
Like, you're literally the first person I've heard to dislike his JLU appearance as trying too hard. Everyone, as I recall, loved that Aquaman episode. They thought the show's version of the behanding was particularly badass.
In fact, while don't care for Aquaman's 90's bearded look, I've heard nothing but great, great things about that run written by he-who-shall-not-be-named. So yeah, I'm not sure people find badass!Aquaman "forced," per se. I think they enjoy it, and then promptly forget it, preferring instead to make fun of the guy who talks to fish along with the rest of pop culture.
At the same time, as I'm a lover of fun comics as well as badass, hardcore comics, I certainly enjoy seeing the Aquaman you describe. That actually might be the first step to people accepting him, if you build up to badassery there:
First you laugh at him, then you laugh with him, and then HE IMPALES A VILLAIN WITH A FUCKING TRIDENT WHILE RIDING A GODDAMNED SPERM WHALE BECAUSE HE'S FUCKING AQUAMAN KING OF THE SEAS YOU LANDLUBBING BITCHES.