HIV/AIDS was around in the late and early 1970s, but it was extremely new and thought to be a 'cancer' or rare lethal strain of pneumonia, or a mysterious Sub-Saharan African or Haitian slimming disease caused by people using Amyl/Butyl-Nitrate or poppers and cocaine.
It would be the ultimate to many to not have the existence of AIDS/HIV right?
I mean, other STD are mostly not lethal, even if they are incurable like herpes.
Syphilis would have been the STD that would have been the scary death and shame thing prior to AIDS and that was the cross to bear for generations for women, prostitutes in particular. Men and the elite who died from tertiary syphilis were written up as death by other causes/mental illnesses, no one wanted to be a known carrier or sufferer.
So the reality is, gay people do seem to really like sex and a lot of it, probably have more encounters with strangers and also have more likelihood of having sex with an HIV pos that might know they have it or not.
Condoms really do fucking suck.
Sex feels good, impulsive need to have sex with a guy who also wants impulsive sex= possible "what the hell, its just one time", surely this prep shit is better than nothing?
Ive had impulsive unprotected impulsive sex with a whoremongering iv drug addict this week and I'm rather frigid, everyone does it and at least he has had a vasectomy.
Your worry is very sound and it is going to be a disaster for those who do not use it properly, but that really is on them mate.
I see the huge benefit for couples that are one positive one negative, no one would want to infect a loved one.
Anyway, your point is a decent one, adults have to learn the hard way that nothing is completely foolproof, just look after yourself thats all you can do.