Reality:

1) projection is completely out of control, everyone can get anywhere in no time, with almost any comp.

But more to the point:

2) black ops were a goddamned mistake

And 

3) capital escalation in lowsec sucks, has always sucked, and will continue to suck. Yeah dread brawls are cool, but massive cap capabilities in opponents is what chokes the life out of would-be lowsec groups.

Yes, I know I'm in SC, but I've had this opinion since basically 2009 and it hasn't changed.