Well I was a little confused why you thought winning wasn't a positive as the alternative to winning is losing, and that would be a much bigger negative, IMO.
I do disagree a little bit though. When building a fan base, you have to get the kids. The 6-20s year old demographic. You get those fans by being winners, because kids love winners. Then they are fans for life. And their kids are fans.
Look at the Bills in the 90s and most of our fanbase. How many lifelong fans did that Super Bowl era beget? Versus the 2000-2010 era?
You're right, no absolutes. But success out of the gate is a positive when it comes to growing a fan base, IMO.