it’s obvious that past performance is not a predictor for the future. Yet, I could have said your same exact words in 2000 and 2008: “this time is different, let me go out of the market!”.

I don’t know any other investment which is completely passive that will statistically allow me to grow my capital over the long term. So yes, I will rely on 100 years of data I have, and to prevent Nikkei I try to diversify using a healthy international allocation. If you have a different investing vehicle to suggest, please let me know.