We get pretty close...and do on many sets. But you're right, not ABSOLUTE failure -- I've only done that a handful of times in my life, and that puts you down for 10-30 minutes at least.
But Bluto knows better since he's obviously worked out with all those pros he's listed, took notes, and cataloged those who go to failure vs/ those who don't, on the Bluto Failure Scale (giving them their BFS) ranking 1 to 100.
considering how long you've been hanging with guys like milos and hide in the gym, i have no doubt you have come close. i don't know you, but from what i've seen i get the impression you have an understanding of what true failure means.
it is difficult to explain what i'm talking about here re 'true failure' so i'll give an example of how a person can become deluded.
an average gym rat squats 100kgs for 10 reps with a spotter, the 7th - 10th reps are agonising to him and he needs help to finish the 10th.
the next time he comes in to squat that weight, he remembers how difficult it was to get those reps, he's had a shit day and, damn, no decent spotter in the gym.
the guy begins the set focused on everything that is wrong with his situation and all he can think about is failing to reach his goal for the day. 5th rep (oh my god, that was hard, i'm going to struggle to get 6, never mind ten), 6th rep performed slowly with zero confidence and strained look on his face, very slow rep, where he doesn't go deep enough and he knows it (i'm not going to get 7), fails on 7.
now, if this guy was able to focus properly like every champion athlete learns to do, he would have beaten 10 and probably moved up in weight next time, whereas all this man could actually focus on was
FAILURE.
the fact that garraeth, an experienced trainee, says that it took 10-30 minutes to recover from true failure speaks volumes on what i'm talking about.
now i know most of you'd be thinking, "wtf, i go to failure all the time and it doesn't wipe me out for 10 - 30 minutes." well, no offence, but the simple fact is, you don't. it's your mind that goes to failure while your body goes to sleep.