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I am starting to believe that the biggest effect of masks was (is) to remind people to stay distant, which does seem to have useful effects.

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At the cost of touching their face, build-up of funkiness (it isn't like they put on a new mask all the time), unwarranted confidence.

> At the cost of touching their face

I assume you mean while putting on or removing the mask.

But, anecdotally, I've noticed that wearing the mask seems to inhibit high-risk touching behaviors (extreme examples would be nose-picking and fingernail biting).

I suspect that people wear masks as protection and linger around in closed of spaces too long. Masks are probably good for suggesting big aerosols but the small ones will linger in the air.

Most people around here seem to hate wearing their mask and look for any excuse to remove it. If that means moving to a less risky area, that seems like a desirable outcome.

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