Yes. I misread the bit about sliding from optimism to pessimism but I don't accept that I slid from optimism to pessimism either or that I mangled Aquinas. He says that presumption and despair are sinful, do you dispute that?
Seattle Catholic never mentioned eternal salvation, he simply referred to "life after death" which can be either eternal salvation or damnation. I am sure you would agree with me that the latter would most certainly not be "a better experience than life here on earth." 
From what SC wrote I got the impression that he believed that after death eternal salvation was a foregone conclusion otherwise why would he be looking forward to the afterlife.
I hope this clarifies that I was referring to 'the afterlife' and not 'eternal salvation'.