Where we disagree is this: if your goal is to "be competitive" (e.g. make the playoffs more than half the time, maybe lose a SB or two) you don't need to trade away all your young talent and post multiple seasons with win totals you can count on your elbows. You can just try normally and if you hit on some key picks and pick up a few quality FAs, you're good to go!
The most important factor is hiring the right head coach, and you don't need to tank for that.
The key word is goal. My goal is to put myself in position to draft a franchise QB, get rid of dead money, and win several Super Bowls. If I fall short of that there are still several circumstances that would still make me happy. Either way ... until it plays out I have no reason to get upset.