Being a single parent must be tough. But you're strong and I'm glad you did have some kind of support (the ex in-laws). On the other hand, I understood this piece as being about families with both parents present, but one of them doesn't contribute much, so he (in this case, but in general, it can also be the mother) is nothing but a shadow. Seen some unfortunate cases myself.

Just as you felt the absence of a partner I'm sure the child feels the absence of the father/mother no matter how wonderful and competent the single parent is unfortunately there will always be that subconscious nagging voice in the child's head that tells them something is missing, something that other children have but they do not and as a child you can't help but wonder why, what are you missing out on and is it your fault.

Since your daughter turned out great, you can take both pride and comfort in having been so successful raising her by yourself. In fact, you absolutely rock! Pat yourself on the back, and add a couple extra pats, by way of congratulations, from me. But you know, raising a happy, well adjusted, and successful child really depends on the dynamics of the parents’ relationship. Sometimes it’s better to have a partner’s help. But sometimes that partner is no help at all—-possibly even so bad it’s dangerous and damaging to have them around. In those cases, it’s way better and safer to do it yourself. You’re proof positive it can be done.

I think you are looking at this from only your point of view, as a fatherless child I can say it does a LOT more damage than you think, especially as a fatherless daughter!

I'd say more than two is even better: with only one grandparent willing to actually help we end up dragging kids around with us a lot (or paying a lot for alternatives)

It's perfectly consisitent to believe it is generally better for a child to have two parents, and still not think single parenthood is necessarily bad, or that one must stay with an abusive partner, for example, rather than be a single parent. "Generally" does not mean "always".