Posted by Jon P:
^That works until you imagine an interesting, yet dystopian future that "might have been." E.g. riker with the long beard on a Enterprise falling apart around him due to the failure at Wolf 359. I don't think avoiding that future would be considered sad.
I would be sad, if I was there, to find out that it might have been avoided. I would be sad, if I wasn't there, to find out that it might have been. It still works.
The qoute is, in my opinion, talking about how things could have turned out different. It does not talk about whether for the better or for the worst.
