I was a child at the time so I won't debate you on this point, but let's just say it couldn't have been for very long, nor were the debates very public or memorable. Because few Trads alive today remember it. Just look at how many in this thread make the "mistake" about the Nine = Sedevacantist. In fact, for decades now, "The Nine" have been synonymous with sedevacantism, much to your (and others') frustration. But it's an easy mistake, I say!
They quickly fell into the position they were leaning towards -- those who weren't sede from the outset.
Yes and no. Eventually most of them moved toward sedevacantism, but for the past couple decades there was a bit a rift between the core SSPV and those who became more dogmatic SVs. There's a video from Father Jenkins where he rejects dogmatic sedevacantism ... as promoted by Bishops Sanborn and Dolan, and Father Cekada. When my family first met Father Jenkins, we asked him about the Pope, and he just said, "We know that he's not out friend and not a friend of Tradition."
But people really have to wake up to the programmed language. SSPX controlled the narrative and turned the label "sedevacantist" into a term of derision, attempting to attach to it whatever connotations they wanted. Similary, if you were to ask your average neo-SSPX pew-sitter today, the term "The Resistance" undoubtedly elicits the same negative connotations that "sedevacantist" once did, where the average perception (created by SSPX programming the term) is that it's a h0Ɩ0cαųst-denying conspiracy-theorist anti-Semitic, misogynist racist who went nuts and started schismatically ordaining bishops left and right, some in secret, to the point where The Resistance now have two bishops in every garage, just like they attacked +Thuc long before, and pretty soon you'll have some questioning the validity of +Williamson's orders due to his "mental state". They'll bring up the splintering and the bizarre antics of the Pfeiffer cult ... all associated in the minds of their pew-sitting sheep with "the Resistance". So when the word "Resistance" comes up, those are the images, the associations and connotations, that pop up in their minds. They did the same thing with the term "sedevacantist" back in the day.
Those who control the narrative easily program the minds of the sheep using terms that they weigh down with negative connotations. We see the government doing it with terms like "conspiracy theorist," "flat earther," "white supremacist," "right-wing extremist." We've seen it done in Catholic circles with the derogatory term "Lefebvrist" that they used to throw out there, or "Feeneyite", or "sedes"/"sedeism", or "the Resistance", which is quickly reaching the same level of programming among the neo-SSPX sheep that these other terms once had. So it's a double-edged sword to throw those types of pejorative terms out there.
To counter the pejorative use of "sedevacantist," Father Cekada coined the term "R&R" that they use as a term of reproach/derision against the non-sedevacantists. That was his way of fighting back against the programmed language.
Each position or principle needs to be evaluated on its own merits, and separated from the extraneous baggage. So, for instance, look at the principles of the Resistance rather than the antics of Pfeifferville. Same thing, however, should be done for all the other pejorative terms of derision hurled out there. Voris at CM was trying to do the same thing, attempting to smear the SSPX as being basically a child predator mafia.
Yes, there's bad behavior everywhere, from Fr. Pfeiffer to the SSPX predators and those who covered for them to various activities of some sedevacantists, etc. ... but our intellects need to rise above the emotional nonsense of evaluating principles based on the behavior of those who hold them. Many people have left the Conciliar Church due to the predator priests there and use that as a reason / excuse to reject the Catholic faith. All of this "thinking", or, rather, emoting is on the same level of fallacy.
I recall a story in the early Renaissance where someone was trying to make a convert. Well, this convert wanted to see Rome and the hierarchy. So, the person attempting to convert him attempted to dissuade him, knowing that the current Pope and hierarchy were living in debauchery. But the potential convert insisted and went to Rome. He came back and reported that he was ready to convert, and this took the one trying to convert him by great surprise. "After all that you saw there?" And the potential convert responded, "Any institution that could survive such dereliction, depravity, and debauchery and endure for so long must be protected by God."