I agree that stutter exercises/programs only work with a proactive approach and by getting outside your comfort zone. However i don't quite understand what your definition of fluency is. For me, fluency is when a person can speak without obvious/extreme struggles or blocks - any person could lightly stammer 3 times in one sentence and still sound fluent. Setting a stutter-free life as your goal is fine, there is just no guarantee that this method works for *everyone* - person A could achieve 100% fluency in one year with minimal effort, person B can still have severe blocks regularly after years of intensive practice. In my view, person B's goal should be to find a level of fluency where he/she is comfortable with, where the stutter doesn't affect his/her life in an obstructive way anymore. That in itself is a huge accomplishment. That said, I think accepting your own stutter is a major step towards more fluency - in fact i think it should be the first step in anyone's path towards more fluency. When you become less afraid to show your stammer, there is simply less tension on your mind and speech muscles that cause the stutters/blocks in the first place. Stutters will gradually become more natural, which can result in more fluency. I agree that perhaps people often tend to have low expectations, and underestimate their own capabilities in general. However i don't think it's fair stating that all stutterers shouldn't settle for anything less than utmost fluency. Everyone has a different starting point and learning rate: one can achieve their greatest speaking accomplishment after years of practice, while someone else could start being already 3 steps ahead of that. Everyone should set a goal and use an approach that works for *them* - if it includes still having a stammer, then so be it. Just because you have a stutter doesn't mean you're defined by it. You are more than your stutter, and there is more to life than fluent speech.