It's because when we draft low we get: Mario Lemieux. Then Jagr. Then MAF, then Malkin, then Sid, then Staal.
This fanbase has never really gone through things like Hall, RNH, then Yakupov. Or a Derek Stepan or Diagle or a middling guy like Lafreniere or Hischier (meaning guys who are good but not franchise altering gets).
I think everyone is assuming "Oh, we tank, we get 1ov, we draft another Sid, we start a 15 year window of cup contention all over again" which is most certainly not going to be the case in all likelihood. People here just have absolutely warped views of what high picks should be doing for the organization.