Sadly,, too many people want "instant gratification" and to get that,, shoot close enough to feel like they are "good shots". It's the world in which they were raised in. These same types scoff at the idea of a handgun being effective at 100-200 or even longer distances. But heck,, that same mindset has been around for as long as handguns have been around.
I can recall back in the early 1980's,,as I began using a handgun ONLY for deer hunting. My local hunting buddies ragged me pretty good. I heard it all.
Yet,, we used to do a deer pool. We'd all put $20 in the pot,, and had a scoring system for our kills. Points for does, antler count, weight, biggest rack, ugliest rack, etc. From the time we started to pool & for several years until we stopped,, I never took less than 2nd place. It went from; "You ain't gonna kill no deer with a handgun",,,, to,,, "Dern,, what have you killed now?"
But even then,, to stigma of handgun hunting sticks. A bunch of local bear hunters REFUSED to allow anyone to use just a handgun on their hunts. One guy swears that a guy shot a bear with a .44 mag,, and never killed it,, yet,, another hunter shot it with a 30-30,, and when they skinned it,, he says that they "shook the hide & the bullets fell off."
But I digress about the distance & accuracy thing.
It really boils down to good, efficient, PROPER practice. A good grip, stance, brace,, (if necessary,) sight acquisition, trigger control, and follow through. If the gun is set up for accuracy,, and these things are followed,, a handgun can & will shoot at MUCH longer distances than 10 yds for accuracy.
And to address the folks above who discuss competition. I both hunt with a handgun, AND shoot USPSA competition. Two totally different types of handgunning. In hunting,, I'm allowed time to make a shot,, (or as an ethical hunter,, pass a shot,) whereas in USPSA,, speed is part of the score. BOTH require accuracy.
I like to challenge MYSELF,, & I know I'll never be a Grand Master level shooter. But,, I like to think I'm shooting the game enough to develop skills I hope I never need on the street in a self defense situation.
I know some good USPSA shooters. Yet,, they back away when I offer to let them shoot a .454 Casull at 100 yds. Sometimes it's fear of recoil,, other times, it's an ego thing,, where they know they'll be embarrassed.
The best thing we can do,, is to TRY & patiently,, carefully, teach others about longer distance handgunning. Doing so,, WITHOUT hurting someone's feelings can be tricky. But it can be done.