The important thing here is you’re giving credit to scenarios that have never happened.
While no one is saying 78-84 is good, since the creation of the current divisional alignment, only one team (2005 Washington Nationals) has won more games and come in last. Only 3 teams have won exactly 78 games and come in last - the Red Sox all three times.
No one is saying 78-84 is good. But, abundant pessimism, it actually isn’t horrible and it certainly isn’t hopeless. It’s basically a .500 team. And teams have gone from far worse records to World Series titles in one season…