negates (a subject i've kind of touched on before)

[breadmaster]

if i understand correctly, negates began to be used widely after iq was released and draw cards (and leech) became more prevelant

i've pointed out before the ruling in the monumental rulebook that if you play a card that doesn't affect the opponent, the opponent doesn't get a defensive action.  i suppose that rule itself isn't moot, since the guide to specials lists AOs specifically as cards that can be played against buff/draw cards. 

my question is, was there a debate about any of this at the time,  or was the the AO ruling always such?  or perhaps just changed before anyone started actually using negates.