You don't think we demolished SL (183 run win), NZ (7 wicket win) and to an extent England (conditions favouring India in that match, but still an 82 run win)? Even Pakistan was a 6 wicket win chasing 274.
That's half the reason people actually thought India had a chance, the bowling and batting was clicking together. If India had scraped their way to the finals, similarly to how SL did to get to the semis in 2003, then people would have expected the belting Australia gave. Whilst Australia were red hot favourites, people still believed there was a chance for India to upset them because India had looked better than every single other non-Australian team.
Anyway, if India had made the 2007 WC final and played like SL had done, I would have probably been even more disappointed than 2003, but still proud. If they made the final in different circumstances, then maybe I wouldn't be as proud.
The thing about SL is they were gone 18 months ago. People thought they were gone, and I was one of them. They had been demolished by India 6-1, no one knew if Jayasuriya was staying or leaving, it looked as if no youngsters at all were coming through, and on top of that the coach and captaincy was in the air. 12 months later they're a formidable unit taking on NZ in NZ which not many sub-continent teams can do, and then having a fairly successful WC campaign. That's what makes their story great for mine.
Its not simply a matter of "SL made the final, let's be proud", because if I was a Pakistani supporter I would have been probably more pissed than proud following the 99 WC final, because Pakistan were that good a team that they could have beaten Australia had they not put in such an **** performance. India of 2003 and SL of 2007 on the other hand, at least IMO, are great stories of revival. Teams peaking, but just not being good enough to beat the Australian juggernaut.