The threat was there, but day to day living wasn't dystopian already, it was just this thing in the back of your mind, but didn't really effect day to day life much.
Compared that to the 2020s it's no contest which is more Dystopian, back in the 80s folks were still mostly optimistic, it's why so many folks are nostogic for it and the 1990s, even young folks who didn't live through them like Gen Y and Zed.
Compared to now a vague sense of possible, but unlikely nuclear war that largely didn't intrude on day to day life would be a relief compared to the day to day nightmares young people face today. Time in the 1980s would be a vacation for most young people.