I also learned the hard way about big losses being better than huge losses, and fortunately learned it before CHTR, or I'd have been in deeper hurt.
The lesson I hadn't learned prior to CHTR, though, was to keep an eye on the positions (even the LTBH's) and continually re-evaluate them and my expectations for future performance.
I repeated that mistake in my IRA, which is why I'm looking for replacements now for F and JNPR and will watch more closely. At least once a month anyway.