I don't think the wheel or torch had a record bar, did they? When I started going nighters it seemed to me where the action was, as a music fan primary, obviously the dancefloor was important but perhaps less so than in the Wigan era.
By rarity I do indeed mean more focused on rarity than quality at the expense of easily available but truly great northern records. Rarity+ quality, in terms of dancefloor appeal, seems to elevate a records status to mythical proportion. I've heard comments like; 'its just not rare enough to get played' hundreds of times over the years.
Since the 80's an unwritten rule seems to be; it has to be Rare, and good, obviously that's subjective ,so let say: good as in having dancefloor value, to get played at all on the scene. But it always starts with rarity or at the very least scarcity, it's a prerequisite.