Hi, just seen this thread - not *that* regular on this forum, but funnily enough, yes, my manual transmission is getting noisier, I swear. Just done over 10,500 miles since beginning of Dec.
I'll do your clutch release bearing test later, but mine just seems terribly whirry/whiney in 1st/2nd at town speeds...very mechanical sounding, not a million miles away from my straight-cut sequential dog box in my Westfield!!! (well, being a bit flippant, perhaps)
Am going to pop into the local dealer in Canterbury - there seems to be a very good/pragmatic tech there. I'll see if I can collar him and/or take their demo car on test.
Had my previous Mk4 GT TDi 115 for 4yrs/88k miles, no issues at all...