There are dangers with just "experiencing" a thing. Most of us that experienced it were just watching whatever news cast or government speech we chose that was currently being broadcast. Even if you were directly affected by 9/11 by being near it, you really didn't have any more tangible information about what caused it than all the stuff that's come out since then.

I saw the rubble in person, I smelled the fuel/whatever that stench was. (seriously I've smelled decay, that wasn't decay) But for seeing it I got no better information than someone sitting at home watching a TV.

In fact it might have been worse because at the time we were all blindly angry. We weren't wrong to be angry, but people don't think clearly in those conditions. Meanwhile politicians are brainstorming spin and advantage. Military contractors are spinning up presentations to prepare for the upcoming bids.