Sure you had gummed up carbs in 60-70s. Maybe less, but the stability has little to do with ethanol but more to do with cracked gasoline vs distilled gasoline. Gasoline oxidize and cracked fuel oxidize quicker/more. Ethanol does not itself oxidize in gas or leave ant residue or form laquer.
What it may do is absorb water over time and separate which may be cortosive (the water) which may harm say alumium parts. It will also solve some residue and the dirt may cause problems until clean.
I am almost certain that stabilizers were used as far back as ww2, so it is not because of ethanol specifically.
So, to protect fuel you would add stabil to reduce -oxidization- then you would store it in an air tight can to avoid moisture to foul the fuel. This works for gas and E fuel.
So remember, you need to adress TWO processes to conserve fuel, not just one.