People were probably expecting them to be able to be able to finally topple the big bad syndisphere bullies.
Then they couldn't even get through Rose and Pantheon despite having more members than us combined and our two reputations for sucking at war.
I mean sure they did better than some alliances but those alliances had virtually no expectations to begin with. I mean when VE goes to war and launches a two man blitz, it's not really a let down, it's just the way of things...