I think the most important thing in having a 'good' birth experience is that you are able to make informed decisions on your own behalf. In a way, the details (ie, exactly what happens) are less important, if that makes sense.
I feel bad about what happened to me and my baby because it was all precipitated by an unecessary intervention and because of some shortfalls in the care we received. If, for eg, we hadn't been forced into it, if we'd decided it was necessary, then I think my perspective would be very different, even if things had happened the exact same way.

Having an ideal is fine, but you can't judge yourself by whether you achieve it or not - you have to judge things according to the specific context at the time.

Thinking ahead to the parenting stuff is a good way to switch perspective though - more reading!