What a silly post. Good or bad the "new era" has already begun. If the team does well they aren't likely to do well on the strength of 30+ year old players so the team would seem to have a "bright future." As for whether a "true rebuild" has begun, if the team is doing well who cares?
But to answer your hypothetical question, if someone manages to write a "cohesive novel" (where "cohesiveness" is entirely subjective) after failing hundred of times before, I do feel good about letting him or her continue to write novels for me. I'm not sure if you know how the industry works. If you're writing your first novel, no one cares how many times you failed in the past. If that first and last novel is a commercial success you will be trusted to write another novel.
It's really stupid to say that it doesn't matter "how good... this team does."
It doesn’t matter how good the team does because they will do so despite of Benning, not because of him.
The feeling of hopelessness is akin to that of Ottawa Senator’s fans during their 2017 playoff run.
Was it fun to watch? Yes.
Was it exciting? Yes.
But deep down Senator fans knew that if only their cheap ass ownership had been willing to put together the most competitive team they could without cutting corners, the Sens could’ve gone even further.
When I watch Pettersson score a goal and an assist, I can’t help wondering how many goals and assists he’d get with Ehlers and Tkachuk on his wings opposed to Loui Eriksson.
Benning will always hold this team back, and no matter how good they do, they would be doing even better with a competent GM.
So maybe someone like you is happy to enjoy whatever small victories that may fall into Benning’s lap, but I for one can’t overlook how much better things could, and should be.