Hey OP.
I'm a gay dude, and I realize that you weren't directing this thread towards me, but I always find these conversations interesting whenever they come up. I would like to share a different perspective then what we've had so far.
I used to also think that tickling and sex were completely inseparable for all tickle fetishists as well. I mean, that only makes sense, not only from how I experience tickling, but also from the very
idea of a tickling fetish. But after I joined the TMF and started frequenting the chatroom, I found that people can be much more complicated than that. Namely, I have met a BUNCH of guys like you OP - men who want to tickle other men but draw the line when it comes to sex. It was a bit confusing and kind of disappointing at first (where are all my gaybois at?!) but what I've come to find after chatting it up in many, many private conversations throughout the years is that it's a little of everything:
Some of the dudes I talked to found m/m to be sexually appealing.
Some of the dudes I talked to were definitely bi but didn't want to admit it because they were afraid it would make them "unmanly."
Some of the dudes I talked to liked "the idea" of tickling a guy but had no plans to actually pursue an m/m scene in real life.
And some of the dudes I talked to simply wanted to tickle another guy for the sense of power it gives them. Despite my best efforts, they would reject any and all flirtatious advances I would make towards them.
So yes, sometimes someone's domination/submission needs can become uncoupled from there sexual needs. These people can enjoy a scene regardless of who the other participant is. That's confusing to someone like me who doesn't see tickling in that way, but I've met enough people who are like that that I've just come to accept it.
I mean, the human brain can be wired in any manner of ways (we're on an adult forum dedicated to
tickling for crying out loud) so really it shouldn't be surprising that sometimes are people are just different like that.
Just my two cents