

it kind of depends on what you did with that money. There is an opportunity cost there.
I used my 401k to start a company. so far that’s performing well above the market (and continuing to. It’s a second job so I’m reinvesting that with annual contribution caps, etc.)
That’s the problem with averages.
That’s not how the markets necessarily work. A bad year this year doesn’t necessarily mean an extra special year next year.
I guess the problem I’m pointing out is that it’s unlikely to fully regain the lost value fast enough to make up for the compound value that would have existed.
For people just starting out, it puts a significant cramp on their ability to gain capital. There may not be any better options, but it hurts people and in ways that won’t necessarily be made whole.