"Considering those 8 survived and returned, one would expect that colonization of some sort would have occurred... Reports of a land that vast and rich would have driven people crazy with desire.."
Considering the message of despair they left for us on the Kensington runestone, that doesn't seem in any way likely. Another problem that arose was the cooling off -- the Little Ice Age -- which led to the abandonment of the Greenland colonies.
I don't think that would have deterred colonists..
A run of bad luck for one exploring group would not be enough to blind them to the opportunity of such a vast new land..
Another problem that arose was the cooling off -- the Little Ice Age -- which led to the abandonment of the Greenland colonies.
This, I believe was the true cause of "abandonment" by the vikings as a settlement..
The subsequent bad weather for more than a century was probably a major factor..
It had probably become more and more difficult to make it to Greenland, much less Vinland, and there was nothing of value to haul on the return trip.. economics and weather..