> I wish there were an alternative to the stock market where you invest for the long haul, and you cannot take your money out in x number of years.

That exists already! People often complain as well when a company ends its golden years because of some economic hurdle and ends up being acquired by a bigger fish who is _not_ on the stock market.

It's less about the company leaving the stock market and more about "Private Equity" often being a legalized embezzlement scam designed to suck the company dry and then dump its withered husk in bankruptcy court.

When that happens the current shareholders usually make out very well.