I played against Tal in 1997 in the World Maccabiah in Israel. Very good player, had an awkward off the bounce game. He definately was strange (best way I can explain it), short temper, throwing his bat all over the show.
I know a guy who plays at the same club as he does now, and says he is the nicest guy.
That is a good description. He is the nicest guy. But in a match he is a fighter with a temper. He is one of the only players I have seen who seems to play better when his level of anger is totally crazy and out of control. But, once the battle is over, he is absolutely a great guy.
I am a mediocre player nowhere near his level. He as walked up to me plenty of times and said, "lets train" and then, basically given me a lesson. So, heart of gold. But, in battle, what you said above is a pretty accurate description.
I actually remember, one time I was training with a friend (or, really, messing around on a table with a friend) and he came up and he played games against us, and we alternated. He played a game with me. He played a game with my training partner. Then he played me lefty. Then he played my training partner lefty. Then he started showing us stuff that would make us better during the games.