im curious too about this, has it rly changed that much? rps/rpf ppl (who has always existed and formed the core of fandoms communities since the dawn of time mind you) are forced to hide what with fandom spaces nowadays (the western side especially) being a battleground for moral superiority and puritanism.

so if we're seeing more ppl being into rps/rpf i think its more so that either the fandom numbers growing, or ppl are tired of all the weird censorship (that's often fueled by homophobia btw!) thats going on.

fandoms are supposed to be a safe space for creatives, ppl looking for a sense of community, lgbtq+ ppl, those who otherwise irl dont have an outlet to express themselves. likewise, rps/rpf is one outlet and a part of what makes fandoms fun. so maybe ppl are slowly realizing that letting loose and embracing the "unhinged" is where all the joy comes from.