Oh boy, prepare for a rent.
Withdrawal is thankfully not an option for ORF executives. Quitting at this point would be rather silly. We've taken part two times now since coming back, and we've qualified for the final once and failed another time - not a bad turnout - ask the Netherlands, who haven't made the final SIX (!) times in a row and yet still compete. The trick is to not be too eager on doing great yourself, but to enjoy the privilege of actually being able to participate in the contest again - something we Austrians haven't been able to do for three ESC-free, boring years.
Now here's my assumption on why we didn't make the final, and why we shouldn't be disappointed about that: I reckon we did rather well in televotes. I'm sure of it. It was the juries that spoiled the fun for us - they must've given us barely any points. But I do not have any problem with that whatsoever. You know why? Because last year, if it hadn't been for the juries, we would've almost not made the final and we would've placed second to last in the final itself - as opposed to a more dignified 18th spot. That would've certainly motivated the Austrian ESC sceptics to call for an exit stage left with a frown.
ESC has massive relevance in Austria - it is as much a watercooler topic as association football or royal weddings - it's only that because of our, how to put it, ignorance of what really is good (and ESC-appropriate) music and impotance to send the best entry, that we've not had successes over the past couple of years. Mind you, I promise that if we had sent Klimmstein last year, we could've easily made top ten. As far as 2012 was concerned - I really don't think there was a better crowdpleaser in the Ö3 chosen ten that could've done any better than Trackshittaz - which leads me to the biggest problem: Ö3 song selection for the national finals is beyond me - they either choose nepotistically or what they guess might do well with the Austrian audience in the first place. The Austrian finals for ESC have become somewhat of a holding track for former TV music competition contestants - e.g. Trackshittaz (2011-2012), Conchita Wurst (2012), Nadine Beiler (2011), Eric Papilaya (2007).
Here's hoping for a fun 2012 final without Austrian participation and an even better 2013 final with Austrian participation.
The song just wasn't that great, just deal with it. And even if it were, well better luck next year. 
