part of the reason the Pro Bowl worked back then

It was the last gasp of football anyone would see for 7 months. Not only was it usually a fun game to watch but I remember watching for that reason. No football after that, nothing, until early August. The Draft wasn't televised, etc.

Now the NFL basically has no offseason. They will jump into full Combine coverage in two weeks. Then free agency and Draft. On and on. The Pro Bowl, in that regard, isn't needed anymore.