Sam,
First and foremost, please read this and learn how to quote. The way you are currently doing it is extremely confusing.
Second:
Please do not try to flip the burden of proof. You are the one who stated “I think most, if not all, of them called it over such a long time period that if they used it to inform investment decisions, they may have sold a long way below the peak, and we all know the stock markets have rallied over the last few years”…implying that if you saw the crash coming, you were likely to “time it wrong” and lose out from acting in preparation too early. I’m asking you where is your evidence for this. If you don’t have any, just say so.
Over what time frame? In what environment? Compared to what? Do you have any idea what you’re even talking about?
This is a large part of my point. Based off of everything you’ve said here it seems pretty evident you have a minimal grasp of economics and very little knowledge of investing. You glanced through Peter Schiff’s book and felt you were in a position interpret his recommendations. You read some 12 year old article that basically says “it’s better to invest for the long term” and assume it means what, that the US stock exchange is currently a good investment?
My point is I really don’t think you are in any position to be giving investment advice.