So, why was aids such a big deal?

I'm being serious. I'm a Bi Zoomer so I wasn't there for the aids crisis. But I did graduate college during the Covid Pandemic, and I followed all of the rules. I wore my mask, barely left the house, the works. Covid was a lot less deadly then aids and avoiding it was a lot more intense. Am I supposed to pity guys that couldn't stop fricking when I was able to not leave my home?

I'm being deadly serious here. I want to understand why it was so bad.