This is a great post, reminds me of the ones I was writing not too long ago.. It is easy to be negative when the pps has been down for as long as it has, but you helped bring it back to perspective..
The time line you mention with Bai is very similar to Fuze, which was launched by Lance Colins, picked up by Pepsi, on tap at Subway, and his new beverage is Outlaw Energy, which Avanzar now distributes. It also took him about 6 years to get Fuze picked up, so VitaminFizz is ahead of schedule..
Thanks again, and May the Force be with you..