I have been waiting for the opportunity to get out of the EU ever since it changed from a trade area to a more overt social-political union at the time of Maastricht in 1992.
The general idea of a sensible trading support network I have no issue with. It's the concept of a European State, which is the avowed long term goal of the EU, which doesn't appeal at all.
Meanwhile I don't think the EU in its present form is fit for purpose. It is unwieldy and unaccountable. Laws are proposed by an unelected elite, MEPs merely debate them. It is deliberately designed to be virtually impossible to change from within, as the original founders had seen at first hand how the National Socialist party in Germany managed to subvert a democratic state completely legally in 1933. Completely understandable in the 1950's, but leaving us stuck with tools and procedures that are completely unsuitable for the 21st century. I think the EU is going to implode unless it does the virtually impossible and reforms itself. It's possible the shock of Brexit may be enough to get the leviathan to question itself enough to achieve this - in which case the rest of Europe may be polite enough to thank us! Although I'm not holding my breath for either of these to happen... 
Therefore leaving is the only option - or be dragged down in the runaway train with it.
I think it will be more than a few years before the dust settles, but ultimately the UK will be stronger and better off.
Here on MN we routinely tell people to LTB, sometimes tongue-in-cheek of course, but generally speaking we tend to tell people who are in unhappy marriages to get out. To me, the UK and Brussels marriage was irretrievably broken down, and starting divorce proceedings sooner rather than later so that we can all move on is the sensible option.
I'm glad I persisted with reading this thread, despite the derailment attempts. Thanks OP.