One of the things you have to remember is that for a lot of huskers fans our early fond memories were family and friends gathering to watch the husker games in the glory years of national championships. I was 12 years old in 1995 and I don't know how to explain it, but that expectation of being national contenders is just a part of me, it doesn't feel right not being mentioned in NC conversation to me...
That being said I understand and agree with most of your points, just trying to explain what may be causing some of the high expectations. I don't know anything about TO's first 20 years, just his last 6-7....
There are new generations of Huskers now who won't have near as high expectations as I do, so which is worse??