It certainly IS painful, I would agree and you have experienced more pain than I, as I came in later. I have worked for organizations in the past that had to keep secrets for awhile in the interests of those who would eventually benefit.
I am still bonded for a product I was briefed on 6 years ago by a former employer which looks like it will finally be released this year. It's too bad I am no longer employed by that group - it is an exciting time for them.
The point is not that I am optimistic. I am relatively PATIENT. And I do not automatically assume that silence and secrets are bad. I am not ruling THAT out either. But to say no news = bad news or no news = good news are equally SPECULATION and ASSUMPTION. The only people that know are insiders at this point and we will know soon enough.
If that point it is bad news, we pick up the pieces and go from there. If it's good news, we make a little money.