I don't think it's worth comparing SDC's situation to Dollywood's. DW is a bigger park with more attendance and is situated in a more populated area that is doing better economically than the area around Branson. Plus, DW obviously has the Dollywood company and Dolly's sponsorship, so who knows what deals are tied up in that.
It sucks that we keep having "dead years", but what are you going to do when attendance is down, the park is slashing their gate price to beg for guests, and hours are being cut? I'm sure it wouldn't be responsible to go and splurge on another $10 million or more coaster right now.
I mean, I'm getting kind of restless myself with there not much new to look forward to since 2007, but at least the park is still what it is and that's always worth coming back for.
At least we have the markers and the hope that something big is going to grow there over the next year. If it ends up being one of the things I've heard it could be, we could see construction start relatively early next season.