If we get to a new ATH things could get really crazy really fast.
We're barely getting any publicity right now. I have the same thought, whereas we're going to get 2017 levels of mass publicity once bitcoin has broken above ATH, as bitcoin would probably be all over the news by then. And with that, I'm also kinda expecting 2017 levels of a price bubble; fortunately and unfortunately.
Well, Bitcoin made it up to $16k slower and without that much hype this time. I honestly don't understand what brought it that high after all these years, but I think that if there's less hype over it now than in 2017, it's a good thing. I believe that because broad media coverage encourages newbies to buy out of FOMO, and then they start panic selling once the price gets a bit lower, causing a huge drop. Maybe this won't happen this time. It would be nice if it doesn't because I don't want 2018 all over again. I think Bitcoin might reach $20k by the end of 2020, but I'm not sure I want it to. The price is already very good, and slower growth or even stabilization is preferable, as for me.
It's a 4-year cycle. We're in 2016 now, not 2018. Next year is when the FOMO and widespread coverage will take place. Right now we're just shaking out the non-believers who want to get rich and will sell after doubling their funds. The rest of us are waiting for that x20 we know is coming.
I agree, we're not yet in the 2017 bull run, more of still have time to accumulate, 2017 started with a lot of hope, ~$800 turn suddenly turn to $1k+, then market it goes down below the 4 digit, then goes up again in the $2k range, then the so called Flippening (Ethereum taking the top spot), price goes down again, and then Japan enter the scene pushing the price and the rest is history.
So imagine what will be the scenario next year, 2021, lots of ups and downs, first, second quarter and then boom, massive spike in the last two quarter. So it's going to be as exciting or even more compare to the 2017 eventual bull run and all time highs.