They were?
(FTR, I thought they were fine. But not fantastic)
I might change what I said to "her Olympic programs were fantastic vehicles," because for a skater her age, I think she fit right in with the elite at the Sochi Games. Much of that has to do with her natural ability, but seeing how easily terrible programs can mask that talent, I have to give credit to whoever was responsible for making the decisions that year when it came to packaging, music, choreography, etc.
RE: Gold, regardless of GP medals (though I know using them as the sole evidence to justify her hype wasn't that poster's point necessarily), I agree that she is highly overrated. She is the same age as Sasha Cohen was at 2005 Worlds, and I don't remember the rhetoric surrounding her - by fans, commentators, the media - at that time to be "oh, she's still learning to compete" or "she'll get it together one day." By that time, it was more or less accepted that Cohen was a 'headcase' who was guaranteed at least one mistake in each LP and who, despite two World medals (and two 4th places) and a GPF title (and silver), was largely considered to have failed at realizing her potential. Olympic silver medal and an additional World bronze didn't change that narrative in her final season, either. If a less-than-perfect Gold stumbles onto the podium here in Boston, I have a feeling that the opinion of both skater's careers will be vastly different, even though one has more hardware and was literally one jump away at about 4 major events from being the perfect package of technical, presentation, and competitive skill. One will still be seen as having failed, while the other will be remembered as the savior of U.S. Ladies that ended the drought. Why fans have narrowed their standard of success to a World medal or forgive skaters for having not fully evolved as skaters by age 20 since 2006 when it comes to the opinion of these two skaters is something I'll never understand. Even if Gracie does medal in Boston, I will still be underwhelmed. She will have done so with lower jumps than she showed the potential to have early in her career, and with programs that I think are unmemorable at best and subpar at worst. Her finishing 3rd vs. 4th won't change that. That doesn't mean that she won't change those things - and, thus, my perception of her - between now and the end of her career, though.
It's also the reason I hate the narrative re: Wagner's career. It's likely that at the very least, Gold will surpass her results at Nationals and Worlds by 2018 (4x National Champion, and sneaking onto at least 1 World podium), but even if she does, I may well still consider Wagner to have had a greater career or at least one worth a hell of a lot more than it has been, and will be, given credit for. That new, narrow vision of success defined by winning a World medal has overwhelmed the awesome things Ashley has accomplished. This season, she's proven that she is the total package, attempting the hardest technical content possible (not base mark since that would mean two 3F and 3Z; but a 7-triple, 3-3, 3-1-3 program is the most a lady can do without a 3A) while receiving the 2nd-highest PCS in the ladies field, outnumbered only by the skater who is a clear favorite for the World title and has amassed a huge amount of momentum with her series of wins over the last two years. If you had told me that would happen in 2008 when she debuted as a senior, or in 2011 when it looked like she was about to fade into obscurity, I'd have called you crazy. That alone is worthy of so much respect after years of criticizing U.S. Ladies for stagnating and lacking the difficulty or style to be leading contenders. But, add in her GP and GPF successes, 3 National titles, and consistent placements at Worlds (4th, 5th, 7th, 5th), and you have one awesome career IMO.
FYI, I feel Gold has been subjected to the same unfair criticism, though it usually comes as a more blanketed attack (as in "U.S. Ladies are embarrassing"). My own preferences aside, she and Wagner deserve much more positive commentary than they get for their finishes at Worlds. Having a 1-2 punch capable of winning Worlds (or at least silver) at their best (and 4th-5th last year at their worst) and expected to be well within 13 total points year after year in a tougher international field than there has ever been (skaters like Kwan would have won regardless, but most of the successful U.S. ladies really only ever had 1 or 2 competitive rivals) should be praised more often than it is after years of seeing skaters like Meissner, Czisny, and Flatt crash and burn. Disappointment and frustration over their inability to put it together enough for a World medal is totally justified... its domination of any discussion of the two is unwarranted, though, but of course this is JMO.
Maybe her six Grand Prix medals will cheer her up. And if those don't work, she could take out her Olympic medal. That'd do the trick for me. 
Don't you forget it.
