We still have a much different attitude toward that kind of data today. If some company leaked all its customers' names, addresses and phone numbers it would be considered a terrible scandal. In the 80s you would be upset if the phone company didn't print out that same data and give it to every customer for free.

On the other hand, there was a huge outcry at the time over Lotus Marketplace https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Marketplace

That sort of information is regularly bought and sold today. A breach that's just names, addresses, and phone numbers will draw a few headlines, some comments on HN, and a bunch of scolding tweets. But I don't imagine most people see that as particularly sensitive information in most circumstances. (Some exceptions of course such as the fact that you're in a particular database is itself sensitive.)

The recent tmobile breach?

A database feeds more evil than a printed book could, even if scanning/ocr it were feasible.