I think in a lot of places, people think if somebody isn't a title contender right away, they're a failure. You know, the people who thought Fandango was a complete flop because "Fandangoing" didn't lead to him main eventing PPVs.
My opinion on Adam Rose is that if he can settle into a nice Godfather role and ride that out for a few years, that's a success. The dude is 35, which is ancient by developmental years. Good for him if he can.