Fischer's demands were probably used to psychologically unnerve Spassky. Look at game 5, even an expert club player - candidate master would be annoyed with Qc2 in a classical time control game. To be fair, Fischer probably had a winning position anyway but he would've still had to convert it were Qb1 played instead.
Fischer's Antics and Personality
I don't see those as being as strange, like Jack Nicholson requesting all Boston Celtics gear removed from the set while filming The Departed. These are quirks people well known in their industry do.
If you want some interesting demands, check this one out. http://chess-news.ru/en/node/20317
[Topalov Didn't Let Kramnik Use Extra Lighting. Kramnik: "That's Okay, I'm Even Better in Blindfold!"]
Interesting, was unaware those two had an animosity for one another
Fischer had nothing but contempt for "psychology," and he was quite friendly with Spassky. But Fischer warred constantly against the chess hierarchy and tournament organizers, and he seemed to be hypersensitive where noise and light were concerned. In his younger days he could be quite friendly: Dick Cavett remembered him as a charming and entertaining guest on his TV show.

I think one of the many things he complained about was his chair. A valid area of concern, but Fischer complained about absolutely everything. I don't even think it was part of a psychological warfare campaign against the Soviets (and Fischer definitely did see himself, with some justification, as going up against "The Soviets" and not just Spassky). I think Fischer was just mentally unbalanced. You'd be surprised how often in history genius in accompanied by mental illness.
At the time, we thought Fischer was just an eccentric genius. Because of him, those of us who were in the chess club in high school were suddenly cool!
But we were all caught up in the US vs USSR aspect of the match. The Cold War very definitely had a big presence in our daily lives.
Knowing a lot more about Bobby Fischer decades after that match, I have to say that while I admire his genius as a chess player, I don't like him as a person and would never want to go back in time to meet him.

"I think Fischer was just mentally unbalanced."
Based on what? A character assassination perspective?
"You'd be surprised how often in history genius in accompanied by mental illness."
I am not surprised at the public using partial data, making a sweeping generalization, and then spreading it among others.
If you presented an interview with Charles Manson or Jeffrey Dahmer, there would be evidence of mental illness. In the interviews and rants Fischer gave, I don't see mental illness in the serious way. In a joking way, we can poke fun at anyone vocal about a person or cause.
If they get status like Trump being president or governor like Schwarzenegger, they are deemed the ultimate target. Before becoming president, Trump was not impersonated as much as he is today. Fallon and Baldwin are also vocal about their views as well in impersonating him too. So comic relief aside, the character attack is more akin to making fun of Schwarzenegger before he became governor.
You got to ask yourself why that is to see the parallel with Fischer hatred. Couple that with aging, older people are going to generalize things and not explain their position as much. So, on the outside it is easy for us not relate to this if we are under 50. If you are over 50, probably closer to nearing 60, you might have grown up as a child with Fischer in the spotlight. But there was no internet, there were no computer aided articles, and there definitely was not this stigma we have made of the guy.
If you were to explain Fischer to someone who doesn't play chess, you would attach these "mental illness" attributes because that is the character you have been told about the guy. You are simply carrying over hearsay backed up by nothing valid.
Mentally unbalanced, based on what I vividly remember about him around the time of the match against Spassky, and based on every biographical profile I have read of him since that time.
I'm not sure what point you are trying to make about that racist clown Trump, and why you are throwing him into a discussion about Bobby Fischer. You brought him up, not me.
I'm also not sure why your post in response to mine is so hostile. Obviously, you have some problems. I was talking about Bobby Fischer, a chess player, not serial killers and lowlifes like Dahmer or Manson or Trump or Schwarzenegger. Anyway, I'm too old and I just don't have time for this nonsense, so feel free to flame away. I'm not returning to this thread.
I personally like Fischer as a chess player. But as a person? I used to think Fischer was a nice guy in chess games, but when he's not, he used to spread all sorts of conspiracy theories and rather bigoted remarks about Jews and stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_11Cdxvtfo Ironically, Fischer had a Jewish family of his own. I don't know what got into him.
Watching the some videos on Fischer's Match of the Century and wow. I always new the guy was brilliant+ahead of his time in some areas, obnoxious (to put it nicely) in others. But this info really puts into context just how much of a jerk he was. Spassky seems like the most gracious opponent anyone could imagine even given all the political issues surrounding the USSR and USA in 1972.
Anyone have any other info on the demands Fischer made throughout the years that aren't immediately available on Wikipedia? Some of my personal favorites so far:
1) He first requested cameras to be moved back because they made to much noise, then said they were still too distracting so it went to CCTV, then said he could "sense" the presence of the CCTV camera, and finally convinced Spassky to play outside of the main playing stage in a back room (which even then was later moved because it was too close to a play area that was making sound).
2) He requested the Mercedes they rented him be returned for a newer model around game 4, along with a chessboard with squares 1/8 inch smaller, and the exclusive use of the hotel swimming pool.
Both of these after he didn't even properly quality through the interzonal tournament for the candidates (Benko is forever the gentleman for that gesture), then nearly didn't even play in the championship until Henry Kissenger himself called and Jim Slater nearly doubled the prize money
And yet here he seems pretty personable: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIE3CFNpZ5Y&ab_channel=Karpovdeinze
I guess people are complicated beings.