Yes, and empty shelves in the shops, and absence of salaries, joblessness. Maybe in the beginning some people really believed in the changes, but they quickly got disillusioned.

The thing is, under commies people were brainwashed that they live in the best country in the world. It wasn't some kind of evil dystopia with everybody suffering. Yes, they were poor, but they didn't know life outside do compare to understand their poverty. The state gave everybody the bare minimum to live. The state gave the clear direction and meaning of life. Even now there are plenty of (older-ish) people who feel nostalgic about that times!

edit: I agree that in 00s the situation became better, but that's the point, that life in 2005 != 1994.