True. I do hear it in other forums other than specifically feminist-influenced ones, though (I see it a lot on tumblr from people who don't seem to have much of a social justice education. But that is my own experience).

but...I feel weird saying that because the term wasn't in such use outside of feminist circles that the average person-on-the-street wouldn't be aware that they concept is wonky.

I wasn't trying to say that, particularly, I was more trying to say that the subject wasn't much talked about in fandom at that time--people may have felt the same way we do about it, but it wasn't something they talked about--and that it might have to do with the phrase not being as widely-known.

Honestly, I think the main change is the proliferation of the internet and the exchange of ideas therein. And that mostly affects people who use the internet a lot and are in the 'right' places on the internet.

Absolutely. This is what I was trying to get at (I can't speak for the person I was quoting).