This might sound similar to Wicked. When I joined this site in 2002, the tickling industry as you call it was new, underdeveloped and like you I found it more relatable and organic. Tickling clips were more low key and tickle focused; think of most of ticklingparadise, the focus being tickling...
Shirley Eaton said when she was painted gold it really tickled her, it makes you wonder how Yvonne faired, if memory serves they left a small patch on her soles unpainted when she was green. To say nothing of what might also have happened to Susan Oliver haha.