In 1989 or so, Bono talked about "killing the myth of U2" in a SPIN magazine article.
This "myth" was of U2's image that was created in the 80's. Bono preached - as did many other artists - but some how it was U2 that became "messianic". Perhaps it was U2's songs combined with Bono's long late 80's hair and U2's image of "only being about the music" that gave people this view. U2 could be political. U2 could be religious. U2 could save music.
Of course, some people hated U2 for those very reasons.
But had there been easy access to the 'net, like there is today, I don't think there would have been the "myth" at all. U2 fans would have known all there is about U2 and, given the nature of this website, most likely complained about all of it. LOL!
I'm positive that after "War", some fans would have hated TUF. It would be analogous to arguments we have now about "Pop" vs. ATYCLB. There would have been a surge of new fans due to JT, which I'm sure would have also caused problems. Some might have at first appreciated U2 having a bit hit, but then would have hated that U2 were now too popular.
Come R&H, I'm sure we would have heard fans complain either about not enough change or too much change. I recall hearing two comments about R&H from people - that U2 "changed" and that R&H was "too dark". How dominant would these thoughts have been on the 'net? Would fans agree with the critics about R&H or would they tear apart the critics (as they have done before)?
By AB, this place would have lit up regarding "The Fly". If fans thought "Desire" was a change, what would they think of "The Fly"? And what would the old school "Boy" through "War" era fans think? I'm sure some would have lashed out as "One" being a WOWY copy and MW and "Even Better Than..." as being throw-away pop tunes. Some would have complained about Bono's scratchy voice on "One" and how he's lost his vocal prowess.
The last album before the big internet boom was "Zooropa". Some JT era fans that tolerated and eventually enjoyed AB abhorred "Zooropa". I'm sure "Pop" was completely lost on those fans (who most likely returned with ATYCLB). But with songs like "Numb" and "Lemon", even I had to wonder if the U2 I loved in the 80's was gone. While I grew to really enjoy the album, I know many who did not.
In other words, all the adoration and vitriol for every release that we see now would have been the same back then. Fans would have torn apart songs based on Bono's lyrics and vocals, Edge's guitar work and Larry and Adam's beat. Some would love it, some hate it. Some would complain about the pudgy Bono of 1985. Some would have loved the thin Bono of 1987. But the mystique that U2 had back then would have been gone.
The upshot is that fans could have shared music far earlier. We could have seen and heard far more shows. We could have had access to rare tracks and rare performances. We could hear about release dates for upcoming projects. We would have had more photos. And by sharing, we create our own "myth" of U2, just as we've done now. It's just a different "myth".