Well I think a lot has to do with your environment. I was in a college environment from 1966 to 1973- first as a student, then as engineer for the college TV station so I was constantly among young people in their late teens to mid-20s. In addition this was in the south where the weather was warm much of the year so I may have seen more shorts-clad guys than you might in other places. However these shorts were not usually jean cuts-offs but fairly conservative mid-thigh dress-shorts made of thin polyester-like fabric- very soft and comfortable and perfect for freeballing.
