Pants back then were wide enough to go over rollerblades. They've been narrow for a while, but they're getting wide again. I predict a massive resurgence in the near future.
I never understood rollerblades. They're heavier, slower and they more easily get jammed then regular skates. As far as I could ever tell they had not practical advantage.
Roller skates with the front brake have a specific direction of travel. If you violate that you face plant. A 4 wheel platform is different than ice skates.
Rollerblades at least mimicked ice skates such that if you learned on one it could translate to the other.
Wait WHAT. Never used Rollerblade, but ice skated and definitely inlined blade, but they were never similar. You're saying the 2 side by side wheel was similar to ice skating?
I remember that very fondly. I even remember being very scared to ride them because I was afraid I was gonna break a bone. Hell, you can't even cross the road without seeing these things. They were everywhere.