Why Can't Everyone Just Get Along?

I do a lot of reading, and I know that my clients do as well. I find in my daily exposure to retail clients, advisors, investment brokers and the media that a particular asset class or type is always in the crosshairs of someone. Whether it's because that source doesn't have the ability to sell or use the product, which is often the case, and they are ripping it apart hoping to gain clientele by looking like a hero or they are simply jumping on the band wagon of shredding a particular investment... because everyone else is, or they just want to sell their book... it happens on a daily basis. The most recent example of this is in the case of non-traded REIT's, but we have also seen it with variable annuities and just about every other financial product being offered to the public. By way of observation, this commentary typically lags reality... not keeping pace with the investing public who are relying on this type of commentary to make good decisions with their money, much like the regulatory environment that governs our industry in delivering their critique. Example: I am not a huge fan of the variable annuity for instance, because I think that there are more efficient ways of exposing someone suitable for equity exposure to the market, however, they were being sold like hotcakes back in the late 80's and early 90's before the little downward adjustment we saw in equity values and everyone was making money. Even those that probably shouldn't have owned them... they were making money too. I don't recall a suitability gauntlet back then, any bad press because of fees/expenses... you get the point. The fact is when people are making money and the environment is supporting the product class or type, everything is fabulous. Reality is, there are good and bad products being sold in every product category, in every environment, and even a few bad people selling them... true of any industry yes? Just because you dealt with a shifty salesman at your local