It's years of being beaten down mate, added to the fact we were run rather shabbily for years from hand to mouth. Not the fans fault, but a sweep of optimism wouldn't do us any harm as you rightly point out.
To be honest, as an Everton fan, we've done rather well, not having been relegated since the 1950s. Not too many teams can claim that - erm only Arsenal, I think - we have had some great teams, we have had some dross - but underlying is a proper football club, none of this modern day flash in the pan ownership and prawn sandwich rubbish. A proper decent club, run by flawed people, but they care, proper care about EFC.