Once you let the genie of public prurience out of the bottle, it is very hard to put it back in again.  Even if the public wanted to maintain the tradition of respect for privacy, it is not in the interests of the media to respect this.  So you are probably right, Sarkozy has changed the ball game - and probably for ever, if not for good.

"It's a mystery to me - the game commences, For the usual fee - plus expenses, Confidential information - it's in my diary..."