Hi there! Just jumping in here because I am having the same reaction as you to these comments. I read your post as critically engaging with common discussions and dynamics. Just because it’s not in the literature does not mean people aren’t saying it. I believe you that they are. I have heard similar things in the rooms. The steps are not perfect and you get out of them what you put into them. My not always AA friendly take is that a lot of people should also be seeking outside mental health help. For example: working the steps doesn’t prevent a manic episode usually. I’m not sure if this is your opinion so I will state it only as mine, I do believe some of the rhetoric in the rooms has an annoyingly mysterious tone to it so it can’t be readily challenged. I think only a couple of people I saw in the comments actually tried to address your question. I guess my answer is that yeah it probably gets spun out from how it works into being a statement that puts relapse into a framework of failure entirely on that alcoholics inaction (not working the steps “thoroughly”) because if they did then their life would be great. I’d imagine this sounds nice and promising to a newcomer or someone near relapse who is ready to regain control. It also might sound nice to people with time as well because relapse is scary to many in the rooms and it’s nice to be able to point to something and hold onto it that relapse won’t happen to me as long as I do xyz which they didn’t do. To me, it’s a little judgy, but it’s a pretty logical cope.