After he had slain the trees he lost the ability to change his form, or walk invisible again, for his power and spirit had been spent in his hatred and the mockery of the works and creatures of Arda. The fair semblance sounds like what Sauron did to the smiths of Eregion and the kings of men in the second Age, and Morgoth did something similar when he was released from his prison in Aman, making himself appear fair and wise (before he could no longer do so) to the Noldor so they would be trusting as he sowed the seeds of doubt and unrest among them.
I don't think the men went that way in the first Age. I think that a good chunk of them were heavily influeced by fear, and didn't want to get clobbered by the biggest bully in the playground.
Also, the men in Tuor's time were promised alot of things that they never got, which would have made them bitter, and even more opressive about the few things they were able to control.
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