That's exactly how OP was using it though, with full awareness. OP's mindset at the time was "I failed: I meant to start a billion dollar business, and I only have a crummy lifestyle business"

They now have come around and appreciate their success. Their use of "lifestyle business" was chosen to convey their own negative attitude at the time.

The comment I replied to totally missed that the author wasn't critcizing their own business! They just felt badly about it a few years ago. See the part of the comment where they praise gumroad.

A more self aware comment would have merely decried the prevailing VC attitude that led the founder to feel bad. Instead the commentor seems to think the founder needs cheering up and convincing.