Yes, different perception, and no, no better place.
If one figures the return from our closing high $17++, to the $15's we recently visited, our annualized return is what -100%, -200%? Worse?
Reality is every year, Dec 31 to Dec 31, for the past 3 we're up 100%+, i.e. we doubled every one of those years, and we'll likely do that and more this year.
Only a few stocks I can think of did better off the 2009 lows, CROX, ?? ARIA is a very good place to be for the long term investor.