It was already a very neat place when it tolerated almost no advertising at all.
Under the restrictions on "commercial use" that were in place until 1993 or so, although it was allowed for a job hunter to post his resume (to a newsgroup like ba.jobs whose purpose was to connect job hunters and employers), looking for contract work rather than permanent employment was not allowed because it was considered advertising of consulting services and consequently a commercial use.
I liked the internet of 1992 a great deal. I couldn't use it to buy nutritional supplements or shoes, and I couldn't use it to reconnect with old friends from high school (since those old friends were not on the internet) but it was a better tool for learning than the community college I was attending at the time.