You don't need to speak for everyone, we all know you're just saying all this to be a ****.
Does payroll tell the entire story? The forbes player expenses shows 146-199-165 mil expenses over that 07-09 time period. Payroll doesn't include money being paid out to other teams, international signings, dice-k's costs, etc.
If the Red Sox are say 30mil under their payroll 'budget' there aren't multiple all-star FAs out there who will take a one year deal to fill that payroll gap. You have to make LONG TERM investments in those players. The Red Sox have clearly shown they have a plan that they stick to. They saw Mark Teixiera as a possible solution and made a run at him. They've stated they don't get into bidding wars and refused to play that 180mil game with the Yankees. Now they have an opportunity to make investments in players they want (Lackey) and have thus used their NEW FOUND revenue increases to make those moves.