No OP but I read many fun scientific facts type of books as a kid and I've came across lights confusing bugs as a hypothesis before

I am assuming that somebody in their community saw the bugs going in fairly consistent circles, thought about what they were doing, and used common sense to decide that the bugs were trying to keep the light in one side of their body for some reason.

It does solve the problem of "why don't insects all try to fly into the sun?" which the warmth-seeking hypothesis didn't explain

I was always told the bugs use moonlight for navigation, and artificial light of any kind throws them off. But as a kid, I didn't question it and there was no reason to verify or prove it. It was simple and made sense. I'm not saying my interpretation was common sense, but I also never heard someone say bugs fly to light for warmth. My 7 yr old ass would probably question how bugs existed before fire or something stupid.

Really I always thought, and I don't assume it was my original thought, that they probably were used to keeping the moon at a fixed relative position and they did the same with artificial light.

This is the first time I've heard any suggestion of being attracted directly towards the light. How would that make sense? They'd just fly straight at the moon on a clear night.

Personally, I believe I saw that theory on national television here in Germany...

they were actively trying to fly to the light

I can't see how that could make sense. They'd all just fly straight up at the moon. You can see them all flying in circles around lights.

Yes! That is definitely a concern i didn’t consider. I feel like downward focused light can only be helpful. Aside from the flying insects, less light pollution is better for our telescopes.