I agree with you on the use of the term "historic" news. IMHO, the term "knock your socks off" is used loosely and vaguely, and is therefore wide open to a broad range of interpretation. I feel there have been many developments for this company that knocked my socks off, as they applied to a long term investment anyway.
Historic on the other hand, I have to believe, will knock the socks off all but those who wouldn't know great news if it smacked them upside the head!