[mhd]

"And now"? Pressure in most societies has been huge, and every available stress relief was sought. That's how we got the gin epidemic in the 18th century.

One might say that most "design" concepts are there to escape reality (and quite a lot of "art"), by creating a substitute reality that's more pure and clear than messy reality. Both for practical (ease of use, readability) reasons and to increase sales/aesthetic appreciation. That's true for Kawaii as it is for Bauhaus or Flat Design.