I think whether you feel your hair is long or not also has to do with if you are natural or not.
I think I will always have a hard time thinking of my hair as long because of the shrinkage. With shrinkage my hair, even when it is soaking and dripping wet, is always above or a little past shoulder length. Stretching my hair does not make much of a long term difference in my mind because as soon as I let go of the hair, it is back to my shoulders.
I'll probably fall over in a dead faint, due to shock, the first time I straighten my hair and see it's actual length.