Of course you're a betting man we all are that's why we're traders!
I did understand what you said. But in your post you imply that the SPX/VIX relationship has somehow changed from 2008 to 2015/2016, but it actually has not (unless you look at it in the simplistic % terms like you were doing)
Do you know what the other variable that I'm talking about is? Do you just sit there and say 'vix' is X today like those tastytrade guys (which btw are completely clueless to the spx/vix relationship as well and just repeat the "usually when spx goes down vix goes up" mantra), or can you tell me what the vix will be for a certain spx drop? Better yet, can you tell me what a 5 delta put sold today will be worth in 5 days with a 5% or 10% SPX drop?
Dude I've been trading the VIX since before your parents cut you off your weekly allowance. There is an old saying, it's better to let people think you are a fool then to open your mouth and confirm it. Well, we just got the confirm.