They are by no means made for performance. They cannot stand to be revved due to their relatively long bore. As a performance engine, diesels will never make the cut.
Wrong. Diesels cannot rev as high as gasoline engines because diesel combusts more slowly than gasoline. More of a 'pop' than a 'bang!', if you will.
As far as performance, it depends on your definitions of and applications of performance.
Is diesel technology a better choice than gasoline for say, the Formula One series? No, not likely. Is it a good choice for certain SCCA Rallyes? It can be.
Is it a good choice for driving in average city conditions or normal freeway cruising? You bet.
Is it a better choice performance-wise for driving extended distances per week or on long trips? Most certainly it will outperform any hybrid or gasoline engine in this case. A diesel engine is constructed more robustly than gasoline engines to deal with higher compression.
No one, unless your last name happens to be Schumacher, Andretti or Petty, gets up every morning and needs a car that can go as fast as it can possibly go all the time. It's not practical.
A diesel vehicle with real-world capabilities (passengers & luggage, towing, etc.) can run as fast as a gasoline engine for a longer range for more years. That's performance too.