I have been thinking the same thing for years and it is driving me crazy ..., you are making sense my friend. I too back in 2010 thought about buying bitcoin and never investigated if I could actually buy the coins. Maybe I couldn't get them even if I wanted too?  Another thing, I also got into mining "apparently" I was late in that profit generating model too. Then I tried cloud mining and I think I broke even. I then thought maybe I should just buy and flip. I made a couple of hundred dollars on that one, but the stress was killing me. Ok back to reality there is no quick way/easy way to "make it on easy street" as my Grampa's last words to me were "work hard, don't spend more than you earn and save for a rainy day" I have been blessed with good health and loving Wife and a job that I enjoyed...... HEY I AM ALREADY ON EASY STREET!!!!!!!