I wonder if you and others would be of the same opinion if the +9V node had been omitted?
NO. I would agree that the circuit was incomplete. If for no other reason than that the design voltage is not revealed.
Anyone with more than a few weeks experience reading schematic diagrams should be able to derive which is ground and which is the supply rail upon inspection. The polarity of the transistor (and the LEDs and the electrolytic capacitor) reveals that this is a negative-ground, positive-supply rail circuit.
In short the OP is not dense,
Agreed. But perhaps the OP is not experienced enough or confident enough to recognized the assumed parameters.
whoever posted this circuit is.
Or perhaps the editor or website owner is making an assumption about the skill-level of his readers that doesn't match the OP's situation at this time.