I actually don't feel too bad about this turn of events.
While I did spend all that time making all that crazy stuff, it always kind of lingered in the back of my mind that something like this could happen and all of it would be wiped away. I was never under any illusions that my works would be permanent and enduring. That's why I made sure I took pictures when I was done and saved all the plans.
That said, pointing to something and saying "I made that" is only part of the joy of Minecraft. Ultimately it's always been more about the exploration and the process of building things than the finished results. If anything, this gives us all a chance to be even more ambitious, without anything to limit us but our imaginations.
While this could be considered a disaster, I choose not to think of it that way. Instead, it is an opportunity to start anew and re-experience the joy and excitement of discovering the world all over again. For that, let me be the first to say, "Thank you, ebc!"